Bangladesh has the potential to increase its export earnings from the current US$50-55 billion to US $150 billion by focusing on a select group of priority industries supported by targeted policies, research and workforce development, Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir has said.
The minister said the country’s export expansion goals were achievable if five to seven priority sectors received coordinated planning, policy support, research investment and skilled human resource development.
Muktadir emphasised that Bangladesh could significantly strengthen its export performance through timely reforms and sector-specific interventions implemented in a coordinated manner.
The minister also highlighted the challenges associated with Bangladesh’s upcoming graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status, noting that maintaining global competitiveness in the post-graduation period would be critical.
He stressed the importance of improving industrial skills, strengthening innovation capabilities and accelerating the adoption of modern technologies to support long-term export growth. Muktadir further pointed to persistent delays in development project implementation and called for greater efficiency, timely execution and improved adaptability to technological change.
Commerce Secretary Md Ataur Rahman Khan said the ministry was preparing an integrated project worth approximately Taka 3,000 crore to enhance export capacity and address challenges arising from Bangladesh’s transition out of LDC status.
Khan noted that the second phase of the initiative would incorporate practical experiences and recommendations from the private sector to improve its effectiveness and ensure that support measures are aligned with business needs.
The commerce minister added that the proposed project would be aligned with national budget priorities and would focus on export recovery and expansion, improving the ease of doing business through digitalisation, and simplifying policy support mechanisms and administrative procedures.
He further stated that the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) was being considered as the implementing agency for the initiative, which is expected to strengthen coordination between the government and the business community while supporting the country’s long-term export development objectives.
Bharat Tex Special Report 2026 
