Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed yesterday told the parliament that Bangladesh earned $124.73 billion by exporting readymade garments over the last six and half years.
Responding to a query of a lawmaker, he said: “Bangladesh has earned 124.73 billion US dollars by exporting readymade garments to 140 countries of the world from January 2008-2009 to May 2014-2015.”
In reply to another query, the minister said the government has already taken various strategies to reduce Bangladesh’s trade gap with India, China and Pakistan. He said India has allowed duty-free access of all Bangladeshi products except tobacco and narcotics from November 9, 2011.
“Steps have been undertaken to get duty-free access of a huge number of goods from other Saarc countries under the South Asian Free Trade Area (Safta),” the minister added.
He also said measures were taken to increase Bangladesh’s trade contact with the businessmen of China, India and Pakistan.