The government has laid emphasis on product and market diversification, retention of existing export destinations, exploration of new markets and closer monitoring of Bangladesh’s commercial missions abroad to ensure sustainable growth in the country’s export earnings.

The emphasis came during a meeting on export diversification and expansion, and a review of export earnings for the 2025-26 financial year, held at the commerce ministry secretariat on Tuesday, with commerce secretary Ataur Rahman Khan in the chair.

Addressing ministry officials, Ataur Rahman Khan said that regular reviews would now be conducted of export targets and achievements over the past five years, monthly export performance, product-, service- and sector-wise export earnings and the activities of Bangladesh’s commercial missions overseas.

He stressed the need to identify promising export sectors, remove existing bottlenecks, provide necessary policy support and incentives, retain existing markets and explore new destinations, including halal markets.

The meeting also discussed expediting settlement of trade complaints, removing constraints on export transportation and ensuring the effective implementation of existing trade agreements.

The commerce secretary directed officials to strengthen the performance of Bangladesh’s commercial missions abroad through regular assessment of mission reports, identification of new products and export destinations, expansion of business-to-business matchmaking initiatives, prompt resolution of trade-related complaints, and assessment of opportunities to negotiate new trade agreements.

The meeting also reviewed statistics on trade fairs organised at home and abroad over the past three years, assessed their effectiveness based on export purchase orders and examined Bangladesh’s progress in participating in World Expo events.

Participants discussed analysing reports from those events and taking necessary follow-up measures to improve future promotional activities.

Officials expressed hope that the meeting’s findings would help set realistic and effective export targets for the current year.

Among others, additional secretary (FTA) Ayesha Akter, Export Promotion Bureau vice-chairman Mohammad Hasan Arif and joint secretaries of the commerce ministry attended the meeting.