Bangladesh government has set a target to earn foreign currency of $28,447.57m in the current fiscal year of 2015-16 after its textile sector earned foreign currency of $128,203.71 million in the six fiscal years since 2009-10, according to the statistics placed in the Parliament by Textile and Jute Minister Md Emaz Uddin Pramanik yesterday.

The textile sector earned foreign currency of $26,509.77m in FY2014-15, $25,508.77m in FY2013-14, $22,556.73m in FY2012-13, $21,496.57m in FY2011-12, $19,002.78m in FY2010-11 and $13,129.09m in FY2009-10.

The minister also said that Bangladesh exported a total of 84.37 lakh bales (1 bale = 181kg) in the last five fiscal years, from 2010-11 to 2014-15. While, the amount of exported jute was 111.08 lakh bales from 2005-06 to 2009-10.

Bangladesh has exported jute to Pakistan, China, India, Brazil, Ivory Coast, Vietnam, Korea, Russia, Djibouti, Nepal, Cuba, Germany, UK, USA, El Salvador, Philippines, Tunisia, Belgium, Netherlands, Ethiopia, Japan, Thailand, Spain, Iran, South Africa, Turkey and Italy.

The Bangladeshi textile and garment manufacturing sector is fuelled by young, urbanizing, workers many of whom are women. It is the sixth largest apparel supplier to the United States and EU countries.

Major products exported from Bangladesh include polyester filament fabrics, man-made filament mixed fabrics, PV fabrics, viscose filament fabrics and man-made spun yarns. Major garments exported include knitted and woven shirts and blouses, trousers, skirts, shorts, jackets, sweaters and sportswear, among other fashion apparel.