"Instead of winning new export markets as we had expected following the Uruguay Round negotiations, many countries like Bangladesh risk losing existing markets," Altaf Hossain Choudhury said in his first speech as commerce minister at a gathering of businesspeople in Dhaka yesterday.

He said Bangladesh must prepare for a new reality in the textiles and clothing trade.

In facing the challenges ahead, Altaf assured the business community of all necessary supports from his ministry but said the government alone cannot overcome the problems. "The private sector should also come forward to solve the problems and expand the export base," he added.

The commerce minister was speaking at the inaugural ceremony of a training course on Woven and Knit Fabric Dyeing, Printing and Finishing Process under Post-MFA Action Programme.

Ministry of Commerce, Export Promotion Bureau (Textile Cell) and Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) Business Institute jointly organised the five-day training course at the DCCI auditorium.

The commerce minister said, "In order to expand market share and survive in the upcoming free global competition in the international market, product, market and method diversification appears to be an indispensable strategy."

About the training course, he said the purpose of the programme is to upgrade management, technical and operative skills in the RMG and textile sectors to prepare the Bangladeshi RMG export industries for post-MFA regime.

Speaking at the function Commerce Secretary Suhel Ahmed said when Bangladesh started exporting RMG in 1985, the export volume was $1 billion and it stood at $5 billion in 2003. "This year it will be more than $5.5 billion."

"Everybody says after 2004 there will be a great change in the world market, but nobody can portrait the upcoming picture," he said. "The training course will help build up backward linkage industry for RMG industry."

DCCI President Fazle RM Hasan said after the MFA phase out, China, India and Pakistan would enter the RMG market with great competitive strength. "They have well developed backward linkage industries which Bangladesh is yet to develop."

"In order to face the stiff competition from these countries, we have to improve our infrastructure, port services, business environment and governance," Hasan said.

David Hollbourne, team leader and chief technical advisor of Bangladesh Export Diversification Project, also spoke at the function.

Some 25 participants are attending the training course, organisers said.