The Asian Development Bank (ADB) in collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce will initiate a pilot programme aimed at increasing the level of diversification and sophistication of the export basket. The programme will also help country’s policy makers to implement more effectively the recently announced trade and textile policies.

To achieve the objectives underlying the PDST initiative, the official further said that the government has set up a high-level steering committee in the Ministry of Commerce for initiating ten pilot programmes.

In the past also the focus of subsidizing was mainly on profitability, not on increasing productivity and there were administrative complexities and duplications. There is a long record of support to the textile and garment sectors that has created a bias in resource allocation.

The steering committee will oversee the pilot dialogues and will give regular guidance to the task forces. It will also review the final reports produced by the task forces and will approve the final action plans for implementation.