The earnings rose to $218.41 million in 2003 from $90.85 million in 2002 and maintained a strong growth in the first quarter of 2004.

The Canadian government extended the quota-free facility to the least developed countries (LDCs) including Bangladesh from January 1, 2003.

"The market access has largely benefited Bangladesh from January 2003 onwards," said Towfique Khan Majles, a director of the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB).

Canada is a leading buyer of woven garments, knitwear, home textiles, tents, shrimps, jute products and other manufacturing products of Bangladesh.

Besides, some new products including cap, camera parts and wooden furniture found their market in Canada after getting the special facility.

Apparel is a major LDC export item for the Canadian market. The total volume of LDCs' apparel exports to Canada went up to $173 million in 2003 from $58 million in 1993.

"About 78 percent of these apparels comes from Bangladesh, 11 percent from Cambodia and the rest from other LDCs," Khan mentioned.

In the first nine months of the current fiscal year, woven garment exports to Canada amounted to $129.43 million while it was only $62.25 million in 2001-02.

"We are doing very well in Canada as it has granted duty and quota-free access. Garment export to Canada is going up substantially," said a leader of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).

Knitwear products worth $46.10 million were exported to Canada in the first three quarters of 2003-2004 while it was $35.65 million in 2001-02.

According to an EPB report, Canada is the seventh largest importing country in the world and it imports all types of products. The Canadian buyers are always interested in new and quality products available at a competitive price.

Under the Canadian market access, almost all products from LDCs enjoy duty and quota free status. Dairy, poultry and egg products are however subject to duties.

A total of 882 products have been added to the list of LDC products having free access to the Canadian market. Of them, 760 are apparels and textiles, 64 food products and 43 footwear items.

Prior to the market access, about half of Canadian imports from LDCs were subject to tariffs averaging 19 percent.