Embassy of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, Beijing, PR China

Economy at a Glance (FY 2003)

Bangladesh has an agrarian economy with 25% of GDP coming from the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sector. Major agricultural products are rice, jute, wheat, potato, pulse, tobacco, tea, sugarcane, and etc. The country is the largest exporter of jute and jute goods in the world. Readymade Garments occupy the topmost position among the exportable items. Tea, frozen shrimps, leather goods, fish and vegetables ceramic-ware flowers and handicrafts are also major exportable commodities.

Currency	:	Taka. In short : Tk.
GDP at Current Price	:	Tk. 3,004.85 billion US$ 51.897 billion
Annual per Capita GDP	:	US$ 389
GDP Growth (at FY '96 Constant Price)	:	5.33%
Industrial Growth (at FY '96 Constant Price)	:	7.3%
Inflation Rate	:	5.1%
Investment Rate	:	23.2% of GDP
National Savings Rate	:	23.7% of GDP
Exports (US $)	:	US $ 6,548 million
Imports (US $)	:	US $ 8,699 million
Exchange Ratewith selected International Currencies (2003)	:	US Dollar - USD = Tk. 57.90 Euro = Tk. 66.21 Australian Dollar = Tk. 38.63 Malaysian Ringgit = Tk. 15.24 South Korean Won = Tk. 0.05 SDR = Tk. 81.16 Japanese - JPY = Tk. 0.48 G.B. Pound - GBP = Tk. 95.49 Saudi Riyal - SAR = Tk. 15.44 Singapore Dollar-SGD= Tk. 32.96
Foreign Exchange Reserve Bank Rate	:	US $ 2,470 million (on 30-06-2003)
Bank Rate	:	5.00%
Major Industries	:	Jute, tea, textiles, garments, paper, newsprint, fertilizer, leather and leather goods, sugar, cement, fish processing, pharmaceuticals, chemical industries, etc.
Traditional Export Items	:	Raw jute, jute manufactures (hessian sacking, carpet backing, carpets), jute products, tea, leather, leather products etc.
Non-traditional Export Items	:	Garments, frozen shrimps, other fish products, newsprint, paper, naphtha, furnace oil, urea, ceramic products etc.
Major Imports	:	Wheat, oil, seeds, crude petroleum, raw cotton, edible oil, petroleum products, fertilizer, staple fibers, yarn, iron & steel, capital goods, etc.
Major Trading Partners	:	USA, EU Countries, India, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Indonesia, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, UAE.