4 major export sectors unattended
Staff Correspondent
The proposed tariff restructuring in the budget may create an anti-domestic industry bias with a number of important export sectors left unattended.The tariff incidences would increase by 1.75 percent when the custom duty (CD) would be 10 percent from 5 percent. These would mainly be for raw materials and capital goods. On the other hand, the duty on intermediate goods would rise to 15 percent from 12 percent. The Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) in its budget analysis pointed out that the government has allocated Tk 100 crore as Agriculture Equity Entrepreneurship Fund (EEF) while another 150 crore in credit support for agro-based industries. But there was no allocation for four thrust sectors--pharmaceuticals, home textile, light engineering and leather. Another nine special development sectors too were not touched on. Most of these sectors have been performing well though. In this context, the CPD wonders if the export sector is being punished for its robust performance.
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