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The government on Sunday set an ambitious export earnings target of US$63.4 billion for the current fiscal year (FY2026-27), aiming to achieve 15 percent growth in exports of goods and services through market diversification, expanded trade agreements and improved business conditions.
Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir announced the target at a press briefing at the Ministry of Commerce in Dhaka.
Of the total target, $55.2 billion is expected to come from merchandise exports, while $8.2 billion is projected from services exports.
Acknowledging that Bangladesh fell short of its export target in the previous fiscal year amid sluggish global demand, the minister expressed confidence that the sector would regain momentum under the country’s newly elected government.
He attributed the optimism to greater policy stability, business-friendly measures announced in the national budget and ongoing efforts to improve the investment climate.
The minister said export diversification would remain one of the government’s top priorities, noting that the ready-made garment (RMG) sector still accounts for nearly 85 percent of Bangladesh’s export earnings.
To reduce dependence on a single sector, the government has identified leather and leather products, shipbuilding and ship recycling, light engineering and information technology (IT) as priority industries with strong export potential.
On trade expansion, Muktadir said negotiations on Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with South Korea and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are in their final stages. Bangladesh also expects to conclude trade negotiations with four to five additional countries by December.
He added that the proposed Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with Japan would be placed before the next session of Parliament for approval, while the European Union has expressed interest in launching negotiations on a bilateral FTA with Bangladesh.
Regarding Bangladesh’s graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category, the commerce minister said concerns over the transition have largely eased, adding that exporters would continue to enjoy existing preferential market access for the next three years under the agreed transition arrangements.
Muktadir also identified energy shortages as one of the key challenges facing the export sector. To address the issue, he said the government is working to install two additional Floating Storage Regasification Units (FSRUs) to increase liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports and ensure a more reliable energy supply for industries.
Despite persistent global economic uncertainty and geopolitical tensions, the minister expressed optimism that stronger policy support, expanded trade partnerships, improved energy availability and higher investment would enable Bangladesh to achieve its FY27 export target and sustain robust export growth.