Making up 75 percent of total exports, woven and knit sectors are expected to boom with exports to rise sharply by 32 percent and woven goods to grow by 10 percent. Exports of other Industrial products are set to grow by 15.27 percent.

Exports of primary products such as agricultural goods, frozen food, jute and tea are expected to rise by 14.18 percent.

The new export target was tabled at a high-level meeting of the ministry headed by Commerce Minister Altaf Hossain Chowdhury yesterday.

Meantime, exports in the first 11 months of the last fiscal year clocked $6.78 billion -- on track to surpass the target of $7.44 billion by 1.17 percent when the full year's figures are available.

Commenting on the target, Research Director of the Centre for Policy Dialogue Mustfizur Rahman said: "Like last fiscal year, I expect exports to grow by double digits."

"I am not sure about the state of the woven industry, but the knit sector is performing well to grow. On balance, the readymade garment sector will have a positive year," added Mustafiz.

He prescribes a greater emphasis on capacity building and export diversification to prepare for the post-multifibre agreement regime.