DESCRIPTION

The proposed technical assistance (TA) will assist Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) with implementing the Integrated Business Survey (IBS) to complement national statistics on economic activity and global value chains (GVC), including areas and sectors not covered previously or not adequately covered. The survey will help fill the information gap on the services sector and the sub-regional distribution of economic activity. Such information is crucial for policy-makers to be able to identify the potential for thrust sectors to develop alongside providing timely and reliable information to major stakeholders in the service sectors. In addition to supporting the IBS, the proposed TA will help establish a fully functional statistical business register, enhance the quality of price statistics, develop an efficient economic data production system based on the national accounts framework and improve economic data collection methods using information technology. Finally, the TA will produce at least two research studies on GVCs through the development of key sectors, particularly services, using the survey data collected. This will be partially achieved through a pilot survey of firms in selected sectors (including thrust' sectors) with export potential, as well as their suppliers.

PROJECT RATIONALE AND LINKAGE TO COUNTRY/REGIONAL STRATEGY

The proposed TA has a close linkage with the objectives of the 7th 5-year plan of the country and National Strategy for the Development of the Statistics (NSDS). According to the NSDS, the Industry and Labor Wing of the BBS should generate reliable statistics on service sectors, including wholesale and retail trade, hotel and restaurant, and small manufacturing. Indeed, one of the main objectives of the 7th 5-year plan (2016-2020) is the Strengthening of the BBS is probably the topmost priority for instituting a result based Monitoring and evaluation. Under the Seventh Plan time interval, the Government will offer greater effort to generate high quality data in a timely fashion by strengthening the capacity and scope of BBS. Developing partners and donors are expected to be involved in the implementation of the NSDS. It is also consistent with the aim of boosting industrial production and other employment opportunities in the industry and service sector.

IMPACT

The intended impact of the proposed TA is to improve the quality, timeliness, relevance, and frequency of economic statistics produced by Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) on all the productive sectors including the manufacturing and service sectors to support the compilation of national accounts, global value chain related estimates, and the 7th 5-year plan of the country to promote evidence based policymaking. The research agenda of the technical assistance will also provide policy-makers with a better understanding of the productive sector and insight into implementing more effective export promotion policies.

OUTCOME

Regular conduct of the Integrated Business Survey with government support.

CONSULTING SERVICES

ADB will contract for a total of 223.5 person-months of individual consulting services (19.5 person-months international and 204 person-months national) to implement the proposed TA. All consultants will be engaged by ADB in accordance with ADB's Guidelines on the Use of Consultants (2013, as amended from time to time) and any procurement under this TA will be in accordance with ADB's Procurement Guidelines (2015, as amended from time to time).

PROCUREMENT

Equipment will be procured in accordance with ADB's Procurement Guidelines (2015, as amended from time to time) like personal computers, handheld devices, printers, scanners, and other supplies related to the conduct of training and field survey.

ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISM OF ADB

The Accountability Mechanism is an independent complaint mechanism and fact-finding body for people who believe they are likely to be, or have been, adversely affected by an Asian Development Bank-financed project. If you submit a complaint to the Accountability Mechanism, they may investigate to assess whether the Asian Development Bank is following its own policies and procedures for preventing harm to people or the environment. You can learn more about the Accountability Mechanism and how to file a complaint at: http://www.adb.org/site/accountability-mechanism/main

CONTACTS

Responsible ADB Officer Mariasingham, Mahinthan Joseph
Responsible ADB Department Economic Research and Regional Cooperation Department
Responsible ADB Division Development Indicators and Policy Research Division
Executing Agencies
Asian Development Bank
6 ADB Avenue,
Mandaluyong City 1550, Philippines