How should Bangladesh make best use of Thailand's Duty-Free-Quota-Free facility?

Recently Thailand decided to provide the duty-free quota-free (DFQF) market facility for Bangladeshi products in its market until 2026 to increase the two-way trade volume. The declaration came as such facilities to Bangladesh by Thailand expired on 31 December 2020. It is high time to analyse the market situation of Thailand to devise appropriate strategies to get optimum benefits from the DFQF market facilities offered to Bangladesh.

Bangladesh–Thailand relations officially began on 5 October 1972 when Thailand recognised Bangladesh as a sovereign state. Diplomatic ties began with the establishment of the Thai Embassy in Bangladesh in 1974. In order to promote bilateral trade between Bangladesh and Thailand, the two countries signed a bilateral trade agreement on 22 August 1997. They have also formed a joint chamber of commerce to generate maximum output from their economic engagement.

From the very beginning of their relations, these two countries have been enjoying very warm bindings and have been working to deepen their bilateral ties for mutual benefits. The bilateral linkage between these two countries has been strengthened over time because of shared strong commitment to democratic values, efforts to foster international peace, harmony, and security. Their cultural, social, and religious linkage also contributed to blossoming the ties.

In South Asia, Bangladesh is the third largest trading partner of Thailand. Although the bilateral trade between these two countries crossed USD 1.25 billion in 2018, it has experienced a declining trend after that time period. As bilateral trade between them dropped to USD 910.05 million in 2020 from USD 1,067.90 million in 2019, they should work together to increase bilateral trade and investment.

Bangladesh basically exports vegetables, plastic items, rubber products, soap, animal goods, apparel, electrical and electronic equipment, fish, medicines, etc. to Thailand. Again, Bangladesh imports cement, iron and steel, cereals, organic chemicals, machinery and mechanical appliances, synthetic fiber, and cotton fabrics, sugar, and sugar confectionery, etc. from Thailand. Bangladesh has huge untapped bilateral trade prospects with Thailand. It can export pharmaceuticals and health care goods, chemical products, leather goods, jute goods, frozen fish, knitwear and woven garments, ceramic tableware, tea, etc. to the Thai market. As these products have huge demand in Thailand, Bangladesh can earn huge foreign currency by exporting these goods with easy access, the DFQF, provided by Thailand. Bangladesh should also utilize this DFQF market access offered by Thailand to have competitive advantage.

If Bangladesh does its homework properly, then it can get maximum output from the DFQF facility offered by Thailand. Firstly, Bangladesh should analyse the Thai market to understand the Thai economy, its cultural practices, and social norms and then assess the consumption habits and patterns of Thai consumers. The Bangladesh embassy in Thailand, the ministry of commerce and industry, and the Bangladesh-Thai Chamber of Commerce and Industry can jointly conduct this survey.

Secondly, Bangladesh should encourage local producers to boost their exports to Thailand by providing different facilities such as backward linkage to ease production, arranging raw materials for the products that will be exported to Thailand, offering easy loans, etc.

Thirdly, the concerned government agencies should take initiative to promote and brand Bangladeshi products in the Thai market to increase market demand for Bangladeshi products.

Fourthly, Bangladesh may arrange or participate in trade fairs organised in Thailand to apprise the people there about Bangladeshi goods and services. Fifthly, a team of Bangladeshi businessmen may visit Thailand to have a better understanding of the products being sold there and to have an idea about the goods that might be exported there.

Sixthly, the existing relations among the businessmen of both countries should be nurtured and expanded to give the economic engagement a new shape. Seventhly, the governments of both countries should work together to simplify the regulations to boost exports and enhance bilateral economic engagement.

As Bangladesh has eight export processing zones (EPZs) and has undertaken initiatives to establish 100 Special Economic Zones (EZs), it should try to attract Thai investors by informing them of the different incentives and facilities available here such as tax holiday, One-Stop Service, etc. in EPZs and EZs. Government should allocate lands for the businessmen of Thailand in these EZs with easy terms and conditions. Both countries may rethink and take the joint initiative to flourish the tourism sectors in their respective countries. They should work to ease visa restrictions which not only will boost trade and investment but also make it easy for Bangladeshi to avail Thai healthcare facilities.

Bangladesh and Thailand have common membership in BIMSTEC which reflects that they have common interests and goals. Besides, in order to address bilateral trade-related issues, they have set up a joint trade commission which is really a praiseworthy initiative. As Bangladesh is officially going to be an LDC-graduate by 2026, it may face different challenges, e.g., cancellation of GSP facilities, which may have a negative impact on its export earnings. In order to avoid the decline in export earnings, Bangladesh should sign Free Trade Agreements with its friendly countries such as Thailand.

* Ozair Islam is a freelance writer and columnist. He can be reached at ozairislam80@gmail.com