“This year will be very crucial for Bangladesh in terms of price competitiveness and lead time,” said Tipu Munshi, president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) . “Seizing of the quota-free opportunity would be very challenging for Bangladesh in 2006 unless improvement in lead-time and price competitiveness, he said . “During Jan-Oct period of 2005, imports of textiles into USA from Bangladesh rose by over 17 per cent and Cambodia by 18 per cent, said international media reports marking the first anniversary of post-MFA regime . “Among other gainers in developing countries in the US market were Peru (up 20 per cent), Jordan (up 18 per cent), Indonesia (up 17 per cent), Pakistan (up 11 per cent) and Sri Lanka (up 8 per cent) .On the other hand, textile exports from Vietnam and Thailand to the US failed to expand, and some Central American and Caribbean nations experienced some declines . “However, the principal losers, as expected, were industrialised economies, such as Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea . “Chinese exports of textiles rose by 22.6 per cent in the Jan-Oct 2005 period over the corresponding period of last year . “Her exports to the US rose by 48 per cent during this period and her market share rose from an already formidable 20 per cent to 28 per cent . “US imports of Indian textiles increased by 23 per cent in Jan-Oct 2005 and its market share rose creditably from 4.6 per cent to 5.3 per cent . “The World Trade Organisation (WTO) secretariat, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and several other august agencies had predicted that China and India would win the post-quota challenges and the LDCs were likely to suffer badly due to freezing market shares and allow the more efficient to expand their markets . “We have gained 4-5 per cent increase in exports of textiles although woven exports declined during the first year of quota-free regime,” Tipu Munshi told the news agency on Monday . “We are very positive in knitwear exports,” he noted . “Mr. Munshi said this year’s experience highlights our ability to seize the opportunity .Source: “independent-bangladesh.com .
Date:2/4/2006
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