According to a new World Bank report, for a fast-paced economy and to boost export growth, Bangladesh finds it important to improve its transport and logistics systems. The report “Moving Forward: Connectivity and Logistics to Sustain Bangladesh’s Success” explains that by working on logistics efficiency, Bangladesh can significantly increase export growth and sustain its position as a leading ready-made-garments and textile producer, and create more jobs. The report makes a point that improving Bangladesh’s logistics requires a system-wide approach based on greater coordination among all public institutions involved in logistics and with the private sector, increasing the effective capacity of a core infrastructure, and removing distortions in logistics service markets to reduce costs and improve quality.
The report notes that congestion on roads and in seaports, high logistics costs, inadequate infrastructure, distorted logistics service markets and fragmented governance hamper manufacturing and freight, further eroding Bangladesh’s competitive edge and putting its robust growth path at risk.
“Bangladesh’s congested transportation and often unsophisticated logistics systems impose high costs to the economy,” said Mercy Tembon, World Bank country director for Bangladesh and Bhutan. Bangladesh can significantly optimize its connectivity, business environment, and competitiveness putting the country on the right path to becoming a dynamic upper-middle-income country.
