PM stresses exports instead of remittance to earn forex

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday underlined the need for focusing on export to earn foreign currencies instead of depending on remittance.

“We have to more focus on export to earn foreign currencies instead of only depending on remittance,” she said.

The prime minister also asked all concerned to diversify local products to explore new markets abroad.

She was inaugurating 24 Technical Training Centres (TTCs) including Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Centennial TTC at the upazila level, joining virtually from her official Ganabhaban residence here.

The Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training (BMET) organised the function at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in city.

“We have to take initiatives to earn foreign currencies by making local products multidimensional to find out fresh markets abroad,” she said.

The premier said some people of the country are making illogical comments and spreading rumours about the foreign currency reserve, adding it is common that the reserve would be more or less.

“I believe, it is enough to have foreign currency reserve to purchase food for three months,” she continued.

But, she said Bangladesh has to shrink dependency on other countries for consumer products and food items.

“We can utilise properly the people and fertile lands we have. We have to modernise the process of preserving foods and establish food processing industries largely,” the prime minister said.

In such way, the demand of the local markets would be fulfilled and locally made products can be exported to earn foreign currencies, she added.

Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Imran Ahmad, its parliamentary affairs committee Chairman Barrister Anisul Islam Mahmud, Secretary Dr Ahmed Munirus Saleheen and BMET Director General Md Shahidul Alam, spoke on the occasion.

A documentary on the TTCs was screened at the function.

Sheikh Hasina said her government has sent 96,30,505 workers abroad and received USD 21.03 billion as remittance during the FY 2021-22 which is five times higher than that of the FY 2005-06 during the BNP-Jamaat alliance government.

Due to corruption, irregularities and syndicate, the numbers of sending manpower abroad during the BNP regime had reduced significantly and they had only sent 25,20,902 workers in FY 2005-06, she said.

The premier asked the people who are now criticising the government about foreign reserve to realise what situation was in Bangladesh during the BNP-Jamaat alliance government.

Rather, the Awami League government has expanded the overseas job markets in 55 countries and increased manpower exports many folds, she said.

The premier emphasised giving proper training based on vocational, technical and science to the Bangladeshi people as they can cope with the advanced technologies and fourth industrial revolution to meet the growing demand of skilled manpower at home and abroad.

In this connection, she said 100 economic zones are being set up across the country which will also require skilled manpower.

She asked the authorities concerned to focus on providing training on how to drive heavy vehicles considering its huge demand abroad.