Welcome to the Presentation on the Activities of the Ministry of Commerce April, 2007

Allocation of Business Import Policy formulation Export Policy formulation and export promotion Price Control State Trading Companies Act, Partnership Act, Societies and Trade Organization Ordinance and Law of Insurance Promotion and regulation of internal commerce and insurance Commodity issues

Allocation of Business (contd.) Tariff policy World Trade Organization and International Trade Organizations Administration of 19 Commercial Wings of Bangladesh Missions abroad Administration of BCS Trade Cadre Liaison with international organizations and world bodies related to treaties and agreements Administration of sub-ordinate offices and organizations under MOC.

Wings/Cells in the MOC Administration Wing Foreign Trade Agreement (FTA) Wing Export Wing Insurance and Internal Trade Wing (IIT) World Trade Organization (WTO) Cell Planning Cell Textile Cell and Director Trade Organizations (DTO)

Organizations under MOC Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) Bangladesh Tariff Commission (BTC) Department of Insurance Office of Chief Controller of Imports and Exports (CCI&E) Bangladesh Tea Board Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) Sadharan Bima Corporation Jiban Bima Corporation Bangladesh Insurance Academy Bangladesh Foreign Trade Institute

Manpower Position MOCAttached Departments Total Sanctioned Post 2415,4695,710 Existing Post2113,7593,965 Vacant 301,7101,745

Administration Wing Administration of the Ministry of Commerce Administration of the Sub-ordinate offices of the Ministry of Commerce Administration of BCS (Trade) Cadre Budget

FTA Wing Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs) of Bangladesh South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Asia Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA) [former Bangkok Agreement] D-8 Preferential Trade Agreement Trade Preferential System among the members of OIC (TPS-OIC) International and multilateral organizations including UNCTAD, EC, ITC, UN-ESCAP, WB etc.

Export Wing Major activities MFA Strategy for RMG and monitoring compliance Export Policy formulation, clarification, etc.; Export facilitation- problems & trade disputes resolution; Export target fixation & performance monitoring; Selection CIPs & Export trophy presentation; Bilateral Trade Agreement - negotiations & signing; Export Promotional activities (fairs, trade missions, etc.); National Committee on Export; Development works of EPB and Tea Board; Export diversification & capacity building activities (Business Promotion Council); Monitoring & evaluation of Mission (19) activities

Export Target & achievements from to (Million US$) YearExport Target Export Earning Target Realized (%) Growth over Previous Year (%)

Business Promotion Councils Unique Public-private initiative The objective is to help product and sector based development, testing, standardisation and marketing of products Four Councils have so far been formed- on ICT, Light Engineering, Medicinal & Herbal Products and Leather products. Council on Frozen Food is in the offing.

IIT Wing Main Functions  Policy matters relating to Import  Policy matters relating to Insurance  Policy matters relating to ICAB & ICMAB  Price Management of essential commodities

Import Expenditures and Export Earnings in million US $ ( to ) YearImportExportDeficit

World Trade Organization (WTO) and Bangladesh World Trade Organization (WTO) was established in 01 January, 1995 after eight rounds of trade negotiations. WTO is a forum for multilateral trade negotiations and settlement of trade disputes It administers the trade policies of the member countries and facilitate the implementation of the WTO agreements WTO covers trade in goods, trade in services and intellectual property rights Present WTO Members : (including 32 LDCs) Bangladesh is the founding member of WTO

WTO Cell A WTO Cell was established in the Ministry of Commerce in October, WTO Cell overseas the current negotiations in the WTO, liaisons with Geneva Mission and prepares the country position. Bangladesh is now the coordinator of the LDC group in the WTO.

Textile Cell Designs strategy to combat post/MFA challenges Provides Policy supports towards enhancing RMG exports Monitors and evaluate RMG related export earnings Facilitate RMG exports by helping to reduce obstacles Provides secretarial support services to Social Compliance Forum in RMG.

Planning Cell Development Projects under ADP ( ) in ml Tk. NameStatusProject Period Total Cost Allocation Cumul. Achiev. Developing Business Services Markets (DBSM) Programme in Bangladesh Approv.Sep’02- Sep’ % Developing Business Services for the Private Sector Promotion SPEC recommd Jul’03- Jun’ % Small Project FacilitiesApprov.Jul’04- Dec’ % Bangladesh Trade Support ProgrammeApprov.Jan’05- Dec’ % Computerization of the Office of Register Joint Stock Companies and Firms Approv.Apl’05- Mar’ % Strengthening Accounting and Access in the Corporate Sector Approv.Mar’06- Mar’ New Bangladesh Leather Service Center for Export Development Approv.Mar’06- Mar’ New Quality Support Export DiversificationApprov.Jan’06- Jun’ New Capacity Building of FBCCIApprov.Jul’06- Jun’ New

Planning Cell Development Projects under ADP ( ) Developing Business Services for the Private Sector Promotion Small Project Facilities Bangladesh Trade Support Programme Computerization of the Office of Register Joint Stock Companies and Firms Strengthening Accounting and Access in the Corporate Sector Bangladesh Leather Service Center for Export Development Quality Support Export Diversification Capacity Building of FBCCI

Important Works under Process Import Policy Order, Export Policy, Consumers Rights Protection Act, 2006 Insurance Act, 2006 Takaful Act, 2006 Insurance Regulatory Authority Act, 2006 Chartered Secretaries Act, 2006