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Some 22 Bangladeshi missions abroad failed to achieve their respective export targets in the fiscal year of 2005-06 of which 13 missions could not even cross the actual export figure of the previous year.
Remaining 9 missions, however, exceeded the previous year's performance but fell short of the target during 2005-06.
During the period, these 22 missions combinedly fetched $4179.6 million against their export target set at $4885 million.
The 13 missions which registered growth but was short of target included Washington, Paris, Ottawa, Ankara, Islamabad, Beijing, Bangkok, Moscow, Manama, Nairobi, Kuwait, Pretoria and Doha.
The rest 9 missions, including Tehran, Seoul, Canberra, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Tashkent, Thimphu, Kathmandu and Muscat completely failed to reach the target set for 11 months for the last fiscal.
"Lack of proper training of the mission officials engaged in export promotion is primarily responsible for the declining performance. Political appointments are also responsible for this bad performance," said a commerce ministry official.
Without providing adequate training to concerned officials how can the country expect to achieve the target, asked the ministry official?
"When we ask for any export-related information of foreign countries our respective mission officials at times do not even reply, which proves their sheer reluctance in discharging duties and responsibilities," said the official.
He also alleged that the officials of the foreign missions were often found to be uncooperative with the country's businessmen.
The commerce ministry official suggested to establish separate trade facilitation centre in every country where Bangladesh has large export market.
According to the data given by the state-run export promotional agency, of the total 44 missions abroad, as many as 20 missions including Berlin, London, Rome, Madrid, Brussels, Hague, Stockholm, New Delhi, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore, Riyadh, Dubai, Amman, Cairo, Colombo, Rabat, Yangoon, Tripoli and Brunai successfully achieved their target set for the period.
The target for these missions was $4400.57 million whereas they fetched $5036.44 million during the time frame, that is, $635.87 million more than the target.
When asked about the declining performance by mission officials the EPB vice chairman Mir Shahabuddin Mohammad said, "Mission officials should be more responsible to discharge their duties. For the sake of country's export earnings the government should take step in this regard."
He underscored the need for qualified and skilled mission official who will show dynamism and leave no stone unturned to achieve the export target.
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