EXPORT COMPETITIVENESS FOR JOBS PROJECT




                                                                                                                         EXPORT
                                                                                                                 DIVERSIFICATION
                                                                                                                 FOR MORE AND
                                                                                                                   BETTER JOBS

                                                 APPROVAL DATE:            END DATE:         TOTAL COMMITMENT:   IMPLEMENTING AGENCIES:
        BASIC
        INFORMATION
                                                 June 01                   June 30           $100 million        Ministry of Commerce
                                                 2017                      2023

     OVERVIEW
     The Bangladesh economy has undergone important structural shifts and the industrial sector has
     become a large contributor to growth and employment. The Export Competitiveness for Jobs
     Project contributes to the government’s policy of diversifying exports beyond ready-made
     garments (RMG), which currently make up 82 percent of exports. The project will help diversify
     exports in labor-intensive and globally competitive industries such as leather goods,
     footwear, plastics, and light engineering. It will also help Bangladesh create more and
     better jobs for its population.



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CHALLENGE                                                                                                              TOWARDS THE FUTURE
Firms in the non-RMG manufacturing sector are seeking to integrate into global value chains but                        The project activities are on a positive track and the
development is held back due to insufficient technology and skills adoption, and a general lack of                     implementation is expected to gain momentum in
compliance with international environmental, social and quality standards. Market failures such as                     the coming months as turnkey technical assistance
information asymmetry between foreign buyers and Bangladeshi sellers regarding standards and                           contractors mobilize and start delivery. This is one of
accreditations in high-income markets and coordination failures where market participants are too                      the priority projects for the Government of Bangladesh
disorganized to effectively address issues of mutual interest, such as policy advocacy, articulation of                to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)
demand for skills, and agreement on common needs for technology adoption, act as impediments to                        by diversifying exports and create quality jobs.
growth.




APPROACH
The Export Competitiveness for Jobs Project helps growth and competitiveness of these manufacturing
sectors by helping firms access international markets, overcome technology, infrastructure and skills
shortfalls, and enable them to comply with international quality standards. It will also help private
companies enhance productivity; improve environmental, social and quality standards; and access to shared
infrastructural facilities. It will address critical constraints that prevent private sector companies from
accessing international markets and integrating with global value chains - by enhancing knowledge,
skills and capacity to improve compliance standards; address constraints related to quality and
productivity improvements through skills and technology diffusion - by establishing technology
centres; and address infrastructure constraints - by supporting development cluster infrastructure.
The implementation engages multiple stakeholders, including private sector associations in the
relevant sectors, and government agencies as required.




    EXPECTED RESULTS

1 million people reached in                            180 sector                            Environmental and Social                Feasibility studies
awareness raising campaigns targeting                  representatives (buyers               Compliance Guideline for                completed for the leather sector
compliance in the leather sector                       and sellers) have been                leather goods and footwear              design and technology center;
reached through print, television and                  brought together in                   sector has been launched by the         and technical assistance firms
social media                                           local trade fairs                     Honourable Prime Minister               selected


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