1. Bangladesh has a strategic geographic location connecting South Asian and Southeast Asian markets, providing direct access to over half the world's population. 2. Bangladesh has experienced rapid economic growth and increasing trade integration with neighboring SAARC and ASEAN countries in recent decades. 3. The country's ports and potential for multi-modal transport connectivity could allow Bangladesh to serve as a major transit hub facilitating trade between the two regions.

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CHARACTERISTICS OF IMPORT AND EXPORT IN BANGLADESH
IMPORT CHARACTERISTICS:
i) Import of consumable items;
ii) Import of capital goods;
iii) Import of Multi dimensional products;
iv) High import expenditure;
v) Decentralization of import trade;
vi) Introducing of Wage earners scheme;
vii) Relaxation of government control;
viii) Import of essential goods;
ix) Increasing import of other goods except food;
x) Liberal and free import policy;
xi) Reduction of import of luxury goods;
xii) Reduction of import of primary goods;
xiii) Increasing import customs of luxury goods;
xiv) Increasing import of manufactured goods.
The trend of import trade of Bangladesh has significantly changed in last few
years. As export earnings have increased, the import expenditure has also
increased.
EXPORT CHARACTERISTICS:

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Comparative Performance of Bangladesh’s Exports: The performance of
Bangladesh’s export sector in recent years is quite impressive especially in the
1990s when we compare it with that of world and SAARC countries. The average
annual growth rate of Bangladesh export (11.91%) is higher than those of the world
(9.48%) and SAARC countries (10.69%) during 1990-2003.
Export Shares to GDP:
The contribution of the export sector to Bangladesh’s GDP has been gradually
increasing over the years. Over the years trade deficits ranged from 2.23% to
7.37% of GDP (World Bank 2004).
Export Earnings and Export Growth:
The export sector performed rather well throughout the 1990s. This sector
achieved a growth rate of 37.04% in the FY 1994-95. During the twelve years,
1991-92 to 2002-2003, Bangladesh experienced negative export growth (-7.44%)
only in FY 2001-2002 because of the 9/11 incidents. However, the export sector
achieved a 9.39% growth rate, an increase of US$ 562.35 million, during 2002-
2003.
Exports Performance Compared to Imports:
The export earnings also continuously increased over the years with increased
import payments. Though import payments are always higher than the export
earnings in absolute terms, the percentage of Bangladesh’s export to imports is
improving gradually and in recent years has been quite impressive. The export-
import ratio increased to 70.09% and 67.80%, respectively, in FY 2001-02 and FY
2002-03 (EPB2004).
A Review of Trade Balance:
During the last decade, Bangladeshi exports shifted from the sale of agricultural
products and raw and processed natural resources to labor-intensive manufactured
goods(including clothing, footwear, and textiles), but the country, unlike
neighboring India, could not catch up with the exporters of skill-intensive
products. The problem of balance of trade in Bangladesh is well known: ever since

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the independence of the country, export earnings have persistently fallen behind
import payments. Consequently, every year the country incurs a huge trade deficit.
In a brief-
1. Export of quality goods
2. Export Shares GDP
3. Government control over export activities
4. Balance between import and export
5. Magnifying export actions
6. Achieving free market access
7. Expanding Product based business
IMPORTANCE OF FOREIGN TRADE IN BANGLADESH:
i. Maximum Use of Natural Resources Foreign trade helps each country to
specialize in the production of those goods, which best suits it environments.
It, thus leads to maximum use of its natural resources. Many natural raw
materials such as jute, rice, tea etc. are grown in Bangladesh.
ii. Availability of Goods It enables a country to obtain goods by importing
which it cannot produce due to higher costs at home. Bangladesh can trade
small quantity of good commodities with large quantity of average commodity
to provide those to its large population.
iii. Specialization Foreign trade leads to specialize in the production of goods.
Specialization leads to lowering of costs and improving the quality of goods.
The countries therefore, benefit from international trade.
iv. Economics of Large Scale The expansion of foreign trade leads to
production of goods on large scale. The economics of large scale production
(both external and internal) are thus availed of by the trading countries of
the world. The growth of GDP is 6.6% in 2015.
v. Stability in Prices Foreign trade equalizes prices of goods throughout the
world. The value of USD is balanced with BDT through this process.

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vi. Advance Equipment’s The developing countries can import latest machinery
and knowhow from the developed world. They can thus speedily break the
vicious circle of poverty.
vii. Benefits to Consumers The consumers are able to get those goods which
are not produced in their own countries.
viii. Development of the means of Communication and Transport Different
Countries may dispose of those goods which they have in surplus and obtain
goods which they are short in supply. The trades between the countries lead
to development in the means of communications and transport.
ix. Ability to Face Natural Calamities International trade helps a country to
face naturals incidents such as Earthquake, floods etc. The effected
countries are able to import goods which they are short in supply.
Bangladesh is country of natural calamities.
x. Discouragement to Monopolies International trade discourages the
formation of monopolies in a country. If there is a combination of certain
business units and they raise the prices of goods higher than the market,
the government imports those goods to reduce the prices in the country.
xi. International Co-operation Foreign trade brings the people of different
countries close to each other. It can bring better understanding and
harmony among the various nations. SAARC, ASEAN and other organizations
can assist Bangladesh with foreign trading.
xii. Better Employment Opportunities As the Foreign trade expands, it creates
jobs and provides better employment opportunities for the people both in
and outside the country.
“BANGLADESH IS THE BREEZING COUNTRY OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
BETWEEN SAARC AND ASEAN” – EXPLAIN.
The above statement can be proven or explained by analyzing the following
phenomena-
i. Geographical Advantage and Transit Facilities: Bangladesh is located at a
very important strategic position in South Asia. It connects the South Asian

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Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN) states. One can reach at the doorstep of half of the
world population within 24 hours with a motor vehicle from Bangladesh. That
means they have direct access to the half of the world market here to build
a channel of distribution especially with consumer goods. Asian highway and
inter SAARC connectivity can make Bangladesh tomorrow’s world business
hub between SAARC and ASEAN member states.
ii. GDP Contribution: Current population of SAARC plus ASEAN states are
about 241 crores i.e. 33 per cent of the world population. China has border
with both the regional bodies i.e. he total GDP of SAARC and ASEAN is
about USD 5,110 billion i.e. about 6.5 per cent of the world GDP. Bangladesh
has an important role in this sector as well.
iii. Assistance to BIMSTEC: Bangladesh has many things to do for capturing
the opportunity of being a regional economic corridor of the region. Not only
in SAARC or ASEAN, Bangladesh could work with the issue in the Bay of
Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation
(BIMSTEC) or the Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA), etc. platforms. All
the major players of both the regions are member of APTA. Our strategic

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geographical location could help us most to offer the connectivity through
land, sea even in the air. We have diplomatic good relationship with all these
nations. Now we have to develop our infrastructural facilities like deep sea
port, national highways, and participating in the Asian highway system, offer
a competitive policy to attract investors into this particular process.
iv. Bangladeshi Sea Ports: Bangladeshi sea ports especially Mongla Port is very
much eligible to offer economic transport facilities to the land-locked Nepal
and Bhutan. Indian north-eastern provinces could be our major partners for
using Bangladeshi ports during their international trade. Bangladesh could
offer one stop service facility for both the local and foreign investors to
invest here, manufacture products, sale around the SAARC, ASEAN nations
even export to the western countries either Europe or America with our
duty free market access facility around the globe.
v. Air Transit: Not only in road or sea connectivity Bangladesh has opportunity
to establish new airports and a regional transit point for the global citizens.
Once all the South Asian citizens were Singapore-bound to catch up transit
plane. Similarly Dubai and Doha have established themselves as global transit
points. Why not Dhaka, Dhaka shall try to be a popular transit destination
for increasing people’s movement here in Bangladesh. It will increase our
acceptability, reputation, FDI opportunity as well as export of products.