"We have taken an initiative so that the government can make a proposal to table a bill styled as Least Developed Economies Economic Development Act (LDEED) at the US Congress," said Annisul Huq, president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), at a press conference in Dhaka yesterday.

A BGMEA delegation visited the US between September 20 and 24, seeking supports from US administration and congressmen to pass the bill so that the least developed economies can get duty-free access to the US market.

Bangladesh apparel industry is facing 25 percent export decline in US market on an average from year 2000, prompting the move by the BGMEA.

The garment leaders while meeting the US policy makers explained that Bangladesh and other LDC economies will have to compete with countries such as China, India and Pakistan and it will be very difficult for them to survive. The LDCs need the duty-free access to the US market to survive in the quota-free regime.

"If we get duty-free access to the US market, our export will increase. Woven garment export is already showing a negative trend and we are worried," said the BGMEA president, who led the delegation to the US to moot the move.

Apparel exports to the US can fetch US$5 billion in only two-three years, in a quantum jump from the existing level, if the bill is passed, he noted. Total export income from woven went to US$ 2.2 billion in FY2000-01 but it came down at $1.6 billion in FY04.

Apart from Bangladesh, other countries in the LDEED group are Afghanistan, Bhutan, Cambodia, Kiribati, Laos, the Maldives, Nepal, Samoa, Solomon Islands, East Timor, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Yemen.

Of these countries, only Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos and Nepal have apparel-manufacturing base and the rest countries have interest in the bill for exporting other products.

"After discussing the issue with three senators and five congressmen our assessment is that it is a very tough task but not impossible," Huq added.

The delegation pointed out three positive factors to be in favour of Bangladesh. "Ours is a moderate Muslim democratic country, its export trade is vulnerable in the quota-free regime beginning next year to China and other strong economies; and Bangladesh has not yet received any trade concession from the US despite its LDC status.”