Project Director (Joint Secretary)

Overview of the Project: The Export Competitiveness for Jobs (EC4J) project was a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Commerce, Government of Bangladesh, financed by the World Bank Group. The project successfully completed its operational tenure on June 30, 2026.

Development Objective: The primary objective of the EC4J project was to contribute to Bangladesh's economic diversification by improving competitiveness, enhancing export readiness, and increasing private investment in high-potential, non-RMG sectors. The project delivered strategic interventions across four targeted growth sectors:

• Leather & Leather Goods

• Footwear (Leather & Non-Leather)

• Plastics

• Light Engineering (Electronics, Electrical Goods, Bicycles, Automobiles, Accumulators, Batteries, etc.)

Selected based on the national priorities outlined in the Government of Bangladesh's Export Policy and the 7th Five Year Plan, these promising sectors received targeted institutional and market-access support to strengthen their global competitiveness and sustain long-term growth.

Core Project Components & Implementation: The project successfully executed interventions across four structured components:

• Component 1: Environmental, Social & Quality (ESQ) Compliance & Market Access

  Driven by the Export Readiness Fund (ERF) program, this component raised ESQ awareness and provided matching grants to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to upgrade factory compliance standards. It also spearheaded strategic drives to harness global market opportunities through modern market intelligence, digital branding, and international outreach.

• Component 2: Technology Centers

  Established four world-class Technology Centers to provide local industries with direct access to advanced manufacturing technologies, testing facilities, technical skills training, and modern management capabilities.

• Component 3: Public Infrastructure Support

  Invested in common public infrastructure facilities—including recycling centers, storage, utility connections, and access roads—to resolve critical supply chain and infrastructural bottlenecks in targeted industrial clusters.

• Component 4: Project Implementation Unit (PIU)

  Managed overall operational execution, financial monitoring, procurement frameworks, and stakeholder coordination throughout the project lifecycle.

Targeted Outcomes & Impact: Through these integrated interventions, the EC4J project strengthened environmental and social compliance, modernized industrial capacity, and enhanced common infrastructure across Bangladesh's high-potential non-RMG sectors. By establishing Bangladesh as a reliable, high-quality sourcing destination, the initiative succeeded in attracting private investment, driving export diversification, and paving the way for the creation of over 90,000 better jobs.