Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi on Monday (June 6) expressed his hope that the country's export earnings would cross $80 billion by 2024.

He said: "We've earlier set an export earnings target of $51 billion in this fiscal year (FY22). Now, we're hoping that this figure would reach $60 billion in this year. I'm hopeful that the export earnings would cross $80 billion by 2024," 

The Commerce Minister said this while inaugurating 50 types of online services by the Office of the Chief Controller of Imports and Exports as the chief guest marking the 50 years of country's independence held at the Shaheed Sheikh Kamal auditorium at NSC Tower in the capital.

Presided over by senior secretary of the Ministry of Commerce Tapan Kanti Ghosh, President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Md Jashim Uddin, Bangladesh Competition Commission Chairperson Md Mofizul Islam and chief controller Office of the Chief Controller of Imports and Exports Sheikh Rafiqul Islam, among others, spoke.

Citing the findings of a recent survey conducted by JETRO, the Commerce Minister informed that some 88 percent Japanese businesses now want to do business in Bangladesh while this has been possible since the country has been changed. 

He informed that Japan also wants to strike a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Bangladesh.

Directing the officials and employees of the Office of the Chief Controller of Imports and Exports to render instant services digitally with utmost honesty, Minister said, "We're now moving towards building smart Bangladesh. We'll have to make all necessary arrangements so that people need not to come to office for taking services."

Referring to the inauguration of much hyped Padma Bridge on June 25, the Commerce Minister said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had earlier took the challenge of building this mega structure with own financing. Through the inauguration, the courage and strength of Bangladesh will be projected afresh, he added.

BDST: 2106 HRS, JUNE 6, 2022
MSK