The ERF is a program under the Export Competitiveness for Jobs (EC4J) project, under the Ministry of Commerce and funded by the World Bank Group, aimed to bring diversification in the country's export basket. “I am very much optimistic that the Window 2 and Window 3 of the Export Readiness Fund under the EC4J will boost export, especially focusing on the four mentioned sectors,” he added. Window 2 will provide smaller grants that cover business and technical services to meet ESQ standards. Window 3 provides grants that cover both service and fixed asset expenditures to meet ESQ standards. The ERF Window 1 is expected to fund ESQ assessments for 400 companies, while it has already signed agreements with 165 companies and is in the process of signing with 183 more companies.

Source: Dhaka Tribune September 30, 2020 15:00 UTC