The latest July-Oct 2025-26 trade numbers show that our Current Account Deficit has surged by 255% YoY. Imports have multiplied. Exports have not increased. It is time to round up the usual suspects! We have to form committees to help increase our exports. Here is what will happen: A few monetary incentives will be given, a devaluation will be suggested and we will expect a miracle to happen. It doesn’t.

Let’s try a different approach.

The Bangladesh LDC Graduation Example

The UN declared that in Nov 2026, Bangladesh would graduate from its Least Developed Countries (LDC) status. Losing LDC status meant exports would no longer benefit from GSP and tariff incentives. Its Unique Selling Proposition of “lowest cost” producer would no longer be valid. It had to develop a new strategy.

In 2023 Bangladesh started advertising on CNN, BBC, Al Jazeera TV, Nikkei-CNBC, Bloomberg and TIME magazine promoting its SDG compliant garments, its high-tech manufacturing (Samsung was making state of the art 85” TVs there), its US FDA approved pharma companies, … promoting a dynamic new image.

During a meeting in Dhaka with a........

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