A detailed description of Import and export process of Bangladesh.

1. Presentation on
Import and Export System of
Bangladesh

2. Introduction
• A good or service brought into one country from another.
• The word "import" is derived from the word "port," since goods are often
shipped via boat to foreign countries.
• Countries are most likely to import goods that domestic industries cannot
produce as efficiently or cheaply.

3. Why Import?
• To serve markets where the firm has no or limited production
facilities.
• Goods that act as a tool for producing another kind of commodity.
• To remain price-competitive in the home market.
• To improve the efficiency of manufacturing equipment.
• To achieve additional sales.
• To extend a product’s life cycle.
• To respond strategically to foreign competitors.

4. Non Importable Goods
• Maps, charts and geographical globes which do not indicate the territory of
Bangladesh.
• Books, newspapers, periodicals, documents and other papers containing matters
likely to outrange the religious feelings.
• Goods of secondary or sub-standard quality or below –standard or old, used,
reconditioned goods or factory rejects and goods of job-lot/stock-lot.
• Reconditioned office equipment, photocopier, type-writer machine etc.
• Import of live Swine and any item prepared from swine.

5. DOCUMENTATION

6. Legal Documents
• Trade License (Authority: City Corporation).
• TIN (Tax Identification Certificate) Certificate (Authority: National Board of
Revenue).
• VAT (Value Added Tax) Certificate (National Board of Revenue).
• IRC (Import Registration Certificate) (Authority: Chief Commissioner Import &
Export).
• Bank Account (Local Scheduled Bank) (Any Schedule under central Bank).
• Specific License (i.e. Govt. Import, you should have Enlistment, Bond Certificate
for Specialized Zone).

8. Other Documents
• The date of manufacture and the date of expiry for import of Food
and beverage.
• Radioactivity-test reports.
• Sanitary Certification.

9. Import
Procedures

10. Sources of Finance
• Cash foreign exchange (balance of the foreign exchange reserve of
Bangladesh Bank).
• Foreign currency accounts maintained by Bangladeshi Expatriates
working/living abroad.
• External economic aid (Commodity Aid, Loan, Grant).
• Commodity exchange: Barter and Special Trading Arrangement
(STA).

11. Sources of Finance (Cont.)
• Commercial importers and industrial consumers may utilize their
respective shares under Barter/STA as per basis notified.
• Import under the Special Trading Arrangements (STA) concluded
with prior approval/permission of the government, shall be subject
to the specific procedures laid down by the government in this
respect.

12. Import Process
• Import License
• Import against LCA Form
• Import through L/C
• Import against LCA Form but without opening of Letter of Credit
(L/C)
• Import against Import Permits and in special cases against
Clearance Permit (for clearance of goods on payment of fine)

13. Import Process (Cont.)
• Import on Deferred Payment Basis or Against Supplier’s Credit.
• Import against direct payment abroad.
• Time limit for opening of L/C.
• Validity of shipment for goods.

14. Transportation Documents
• There are different modes of transport through which goods can be
Imported.
• Therefore every mode of transport will have a different document.

15. Ocean Freight
• Various types of bills of
lading
Air Freight
• Air bill/Air
consignment notes
Rail/Road
• Railway
receipt/Consignment
note
Post
• Waybill
Courier
• Courier receipt
Multimodal transport

16. • A bill of lading
• Air Waybill (AWB
• Railway receipt
• Waybill
Types of Transportation Documents

17. Fees Regarding Imports
Category
Value Ceiling of
annual import
Initial Registration
fees
Annual renewal
fees
First Tk. 5,00,000 Tk. 5,000 Tk. 3,000
Second Tk. 25,00,000 Tk. 10,000 Tk. 6,000
Third Tk. 50,00,000 Tk. 18,000 Tk. 10,000
Fourth Tk. 1,00,00,000 Tk. 30,000 Tk. 15,000
Fifth Tk. 5,00,00,000 Tk. 45,000 Tk. 22,000
Sixth
Above Tk.
5,00,00,000
Tk. 60,000 Tk. 30,000

18. Major Import Commodities of Bangladesh
• Machinery and equipment
• Chemicals
• Iron and steel
• Textiles
• Foodstuffs
• Petroleum products
• Cement

19. Partners
• China: 15.8%
• India: 15.7%
• Kuwait: 8.1%
• Singapore: 7.6%
• Japan: 4.4%

20. Export

21. Export
• A function of international trade whereby goods produced in one country are
shipped to another country for future sale or trade.
• If used for trade, exports are exchanged for other products or services.
• Exports are one of the oldest forms of economic transfer, and occur on a large
scale between nations that have fewer restrictions on trade, such as tariffs or
subsidies.

22. Why Export?
• The sale of such goods adds to the producing nation's gross
output.
• Most of the largest companies operating in advanced economies
will derive a substantial portion of their annual revenues from
exports to other countries.
• The ability to export goods helps an economy to grow by selling
more overall goods and services.

23. Bangladesh Exports: Commodities
• Garments (totaling $12.3 billion in FY09)
• Frozen fish and seafood
• Jute and jute goods
• Leather

24. • Garments Ceramics Products
• Vegetables Frozen Fish
• Fruits Bicycle

25. • Leather Handicrafts
• Woven Garments Tea
• Ship building Medicine Products

26. Export Partners
• United States: 24%
• Germany: 15.3%
• United Kingdom: 10%
• France: 7.4%
• The Netherlands: 5.5%
• Italy: 4.5%
• Spain: 4.2%

27. Export Process

28. • Packed correctly so that it arrives in good condition
• Labeled correctly to ensure that the goods are handled properly and arrive on
time and at the right place
• Documented correctly to meet local and foreign government requirements as
well as proper collection standards; an

29. Freight Forwarder
• A freight forwarder is an agent who acts on behalf of importers,
exporters or other companies or persons to organize the safe,
efficient and cost-effective transportation of goods.

30. Tasks of Freight Forwarder
• Tracking inland transportation.
• Preparation of shipping and export documents.
• Warehousing.
• Booking cargo space.
• Cargo insurance and filing of insurance claims.
• Document delivery.
• After shipment forwarding all documents directly to the customer or
to the paying bank if desired.

31. Packing
• Pack in strong containers, adequately sealed and filled when
possible.
• Make sure the weight is evenly distributed.
• Goods should be packed in oceangoing containers, if possible, or
on pallets to ensure greater ease in handling.
• Packages and packing filler should be made of moisture-resistant
material.
• To avoid mentioning contents or brand names on packages. In
addition, strapping, seals, and shrink wrapping are effective means
of deterring theft.

32. Export packing list
• An export packing list itemizes the material in each individual package
and indicates the type of package: box, crate, drum, carton, and so on.
• The packing list should be attached to the outside of a package in a
waterproof envelope marked "packing list enclosed.
The list is used by the shipper or forwarding agent to determine:
 The total shipment weight and volume and
 Whether the correct cargo is being shipped. In addition, customs
officials (both local and foreign) may use the list to check the cargo.

33. Labeling
Specific marking and labeling is used on export shipping cartons and
containers to:
• Meets shipping regulations.
• Ensures proper handling.
• Conceals the identity of the contents, and
• Helps receivers identify shipments.

34. Labeling (Cont.)
Exporters need to put the following markings on cartons to be
shipped:
• Shipper's mark.
• Country of origin (exporters' country).
• Weight marking (in pounds and in kilograms).
• Number of packages and size of cases (in inches and centimeters).
• Handling marks (international pictorial symbols).
• Cautionary markings, such as "This Side Up" or "Use No Hooks" (in
English and in the language of the country of destination).
• Port of entry.

35. DOCUMENTATION

36. Required Documents
• Commercial invoice. As in a domestic transaction, the commercial
invoice is a bill for the goods from the buyer to the seller
• Bill of lading. Bills of lading are contracts between the owner of
the goods and the carrier (as with domestic shipments).
• Consular invoice. Certain nations require a consular invoice,
which is used to control and identify goods

37. Required Documents (Cont.)
• Certificate of origin. Certain nations require a signed statement as to the origin of
the export item.
• Inspection certification. Some purchasers and countries may require a certificate of
inspection attesting to the specifications of the goods shipped, usually performed by
a third party.
• Dock receipt and warehouse receipt. These receipts are used to transfer
accountability when the export item is moved by the domestic carrier to the port of
embarkation and left with the international carrier for export.
• Destination control statement. This statement appears on the commercial invoice,
ocean or air waybill of lading, and SED to notify the carrier and all foreign parties that
the item may be exported only to certain destinations.
• Insurance certificate. If the seller provides insurance, the insurance certificate
states the type and amount of coverage. This instrument is negotiable.
• Export license. (when needed).

38. Shipping
• The handling of transportation is similar for domestic orders and export
orders.
• The export marks should be added to the standard information shown on
a domestic bill of lading.
• The exporter should also include instructions for the inland carrier to
notify the international freight forwarder by telephone on arrival
• International shipments are increasingly being made on a through bill of
lading under a multimodal contract
• The multimodal transport operator (frequently one of the modal carriers)
takes charge of and responsibility for the entire movement from factory to
the final destination.

39. Insurance
• Export shipments are usually insured against loss, damage, and
delay in transit by cargo insurance.
• Arrangements for cargo insurance may be made by either the
buyer or the seller, depending on the terms of sale.
• The carrier's liability is frequently limited by international
agreements and the coverage is substantially different from
domestic coverage.

40. Procedure of ERC
Procedure for issuance Export Registration Certificate has been simplified. It requires
only the following documents:
• Trade License.
• Membership Certificate from recognized Chamber/Trade Association.
• Tax Identification Number.
• Bank Certificate.
• Memorandum and Articles of Association and Certificate of Incorporation (in case of
Limited Company).

41. Export Policy

42. Regulations
Control of Export of Products--
 Export Prohibited Products
 Products under Conditional Export
• Authority to relax export control.
• Export opportunities without L/C.
• Pre-shipment Obligations.
• Quality Control Certificate.

43. Highest Priority Sectors
Agro-products and agro-processed products.
Light engineering products (including auto-parts and bicycles).
Footwear and leather products.
Pharmaceutical products.
Software and ICT products.
Home textile.
The Sea-bound Ship Building Industries.
Toiletries Products

44. Benefits and Facilities to be provided to the
Highest Priority Sectors
• Project loans at reduced interest rates on a priority basis.
• Income Tax exemptions.
• Possible financial benefits or subsidies consistent with WTO Agreement.
• Export loans with soft terms and at reduced interest rates.
• Air transport facilities at concessionary rates.
• Duty draw-back/ bond facilities.
• Expansion of institutional and technical facilities to improve and control quality of
products.
• Assistance in production and marketing.
• Assistance in searching for foreign market.
• Necessary initiatives to attract foreign investments.

45. Special Development Sectors
• Crushed and finished leather production.
• Frozen fish production and processing.
• Handicrafts.
• Fresh flower and foliage.
• Jute and jute products.
• Hand-woven textiles from hilly areas (pahari taat bostro).
• Medicine and medicinal products.
• Plastic products.
• Furniture industries.

46. Export Facilities
• Use of Foreign Exchange Earned from Export.
• Funding for Export.
• Export Credit.
• Exemption from Insurance Premium.
• Easing VAT return on Export-facilitating Services.
• Reduced Air fare for the export of specially privileged products
including Fruits and Vegetables.

47. Export Facilities (Cont.)
• Research and Development.
• Encouragement and Facilities for Exports Based on Sub-Contracting.
• Issue of Multiple Entry Visa.
• Foreign Trade Related Training.
• Arrangement of International Trade Fairs and Single Country Exhibitions
• Shipment of Products.
• Direct Air-Booking System.
• Establishment of Management Information System (MIS).

48. Product-Specific Export Facilities
(Readymade Garments Industry)
• Steps will be taken to reduce the "lead time” for export of readymade garments by means of
improvement of port management, procedures for releasing goods, resolving electricity problems etc.
• Initiatives will be taken to set up “garments villages” at various places with adequate infrastructural
and utility facilities.
• Steps will be taken to establish waste water treatment plants in garments villages.
• Assistance will be provided to improve the working environment in the readymade garments factories
to reduce risks of accident and to fulfill the compliance requirements at the factory level.
• Initiatives will be taken to provide trainings of different tenures to the workers.
• Emphasis will be given on diversification of products by improving skills of workers and staff.
• Steps will be taken to send marketing missions abroad, arrange single country textiles and
readymade garments fairs abroad.

49. Export of Services
• ICT based activities.
• Construction business.
• Recreation related activities.
• Health service activities e.g. hospital, clinic and nursing services.
• Hotel and tourism based services.
• Telecommunication.
• Banking activities.
• Legal and professional services.
• Education service etc.

50. Prohibited Export Goods
• Jute and Shan seeds.
• Wheat.
• Any kind of live animal.
• Fire arms, ammunition and related materials.
• Archeological relics.
• Human skeleton, blood plasma, or anything produced from human beings or human
blood.
• All shrimps except chilled, frozen and processed ones.
• Onion.
• Cane, wood, wood logs/ thick pieces of wood (except handicrafts made from these
materials).
• All types of frogs (alive or dead) and frog legs.

51. List of Conditional Export Products
• Urea fertilizer produced in all factories except KAFCO can be exported with the
prior approval of the Ministry of Industries.
• Entertainment programs, music, drama, films, documentary films etc can be
exported in the form of audio cassettes, video cassettes, CDs, DVDs etc subject
to no objection from the Ministry of Information.
• Petroleum and petroleum products produced from natural gas (such as furnace
oil, lubricant oil, bitumen, condensate) can be exported under no objection from
the Energy and Mineral Resources Division.

52. Product wise export in 2012

53. Country wise Export in 2012

54. Export – Import Information
Year Import (Billion US $ ) Export (Billion US $ )
2001-02 8.54 5.99
2002-03 9.66 6.55
2003-04 10.90 7.60
2004-05 13.15 8.65
2005-06 14.75 10.53
2006-07 17.16 12.18
2007-08 20.37 14.11
2008-09 21.44 15.57
2009-10 33.66 16.20
2010-11 35.52 22.92
2011-12 34.81 24.30