DHAKA, July 30, 2026 (BSS) – The flagship project of Ministry of Commerce “Export Competitiveness for Jobs (EC4J)” has emerged as one of the country's most successful export diversification initiatives, helping transform non-RMG manufacturing industries, create nearly 180,000 new and improved jobs, and strengthen Bangladesh's position in global value chains. 

Implemented by the Ministry of Commerce with financial support from the World Bank's International Development Association (IDA), the project was launched in July 2017 to reduce the country's heavy dependence on the ready-made garments (RMG) sector by boosting the competitiveness of four high-potential industries—leather and leather goods, footwear, plastics, and light engineering. 

With Bangladesh preparing for LDC graduation and facing increasing competition in international markets, policymakers identified export diversification as a national priority. 

At the project's inception, RMG accounted for more than four-fifths of the country's export earnings, exposing the economy to concentration risks. 

The EC4J project was designed to address this structural challenge by helping promising industries meet international standards, improve productivity and access new export destinations. 

Speaking to BSS, Sheikh Mohammad Abdur Rahman, Joint Secretary and Project Director of EC4J, said the project has exceeded nearly all of its key performance targets and established a sustainable foundation for long-term industrial competitiveness. 

"The project's objective was not merely to increase exports but to create quality jobs by making Bangladeshi industries globally competitive. The results clearly demonstrate that targeted support to export-oriented firms can significantly accelerate industrial transformation," he said. 

He, however, said that the project's flagship Export Readiness Fund (ERF) proved to be its most impactful intervention. 

Under the matching grant programme, he mentioned, 570 firms, including women-led enterprises, received financial and technical support to improve environmental, social and quality (ESQ) compliance, skill development,  modernise production facilities, obtain internationally recognised certifications and expand into new overseas markets. 

According to project data, beneficiary firms secured 260 international compliance certifications, while the ERF mobilised more than US$18 million in private sector co-investment, creating a multiplier effect far beyond public financing. 

The supported companies recorded 59 percent sales growth, significantly surpassing the project's original target of 15.4 percent, while successfully entering 22 new international markets. 

Export participation among beneficiary firms increased dramatically—from 59 percent before the project to 95 percent, while their average export volume grew by 192 percent. 

The project also enabled 73 Bangladeshi companies to participate in 14 international sourcing exhibitions, creating new business partnerships and export opportunities. 

Besides financial support, Abdur Rahman informed, EC4J invested heavily in developing industrial infrastructure and technological capacity. 

Under the project, he said that the Bangladesh Institute of Plastics Engineering and Technology (BIPET) has been fully established and is currently providing industry-focused training programmes. 

“Construction has also been completed for the Centre of Excellence for Engineering and Technology (CEET) at Bangladesh Hi-Tech City in Kaliakoir and the Design and Technology Centre for Leather Goods and Footwear (DTCLF) in Kashimpur, Gazipur,” he added. 

To sustain future industrial growth, he noted that land acquisition and site development have also been completed for the proposed Institute of General Engineering & Technology (IGET) in BSCIC Chemical Industrial Park, Sirajdikhan, Munshiganj and the International Institute of General Engineering & Technology (IIGET) in National Special Economic Zone (NSEZ), Mirsarai, Chattogram.

These institutions are expected to provide advanced technological services, product development support, testing facilities and skilled manpower for export-oriented industries, he added. 

The project director also mentioned that one of the project's most significant achievements has been employment generation. 

The EC4J project directly benefited more than 107,000 people, of whom 38 percent were women, through skills development, workplace safety training and compliance education, according to the World Bank’s report. 

Overall, the World Bank reported, the initiative contributed to nearly 180,000 new and improved jobs, almost three times higher than the original target of 60,000. 

Regarding the World Bank’s report on the project, Abdur Rahman said that the development partner has described EC4J as an example of successful collaboration between government and the private sector to promote export diversification and job creation. 

According to the World Bank, exports from the targeted non-RMG sectors increased by around 83 percent between 2016 and 2023, substantially exceeding the initial programme target. 

The Bank also highlighted the project's innovative grant management system, under which an internationally recruited third-party agency independently assessed beneficiaries, monitored implementation and released funds against verified milestones.

This transparent mechanism ensured accountability while encouraging greater private sector investment. 

The World Bank further noted that the programme's success demonstrates the importance of combining financial incentives with technical assistance, skills development and awareness programmes to help firms meet increasingly stringent global compliance requirements.