Foreign Exchange & Foreign Trade (Chapter One)


Foreign Exchange & Foreign Trade

Foreign Exchange

Meaning: 'Foreign Exchange' means Foreign Currency. If we consider 'Foreign Exchange' as a subject, then it means all kinds of transaction related to Foreign Currency, as well as currency instruments, such as Draft, MT, TT, TC, Payment Order & Foreign Trade. In other wards Foreign Exchange deals with Foreign Financial Transactions.


Export Documents handling.

Necessity of Foreign Exchange

No country is self-sufficient in this world. Every one is more or less dependent on another, for goods or services. Say, Bangladesh has cheap manpower whereas Saudi Arabia has cheap petroleum. So Bangladesh is dependent on Saudi Arabia for petroleum and Saudi Arabia is dependent on Bangladesh for cheap manpower. People of one country are going to another country for Education, Medical Service etc. One country exports Agricultural commodities, another country exports Industrial products. All these transactions needs Foreign Currency & are related to Foreign Exchange.

Activities of Foreign Exchange

There are three kinds of Foreign Exchange
a.       Import.
b.      Export
c.       Remittance 


Foreign Trade:

Meaning: No country is self-sufficient in all the goods. Some countries have special advantage to produce some items. Bangladesh can manufacture readymade garments easily due o lower cost of labour. So Bangladesh is exporting readymade garments to USA whereas USA is exporting machinery o Bangladesh due to their favourable production to that item. Hence kinds of cross border Transaction or exchange of goods
Foreign Trade includes:
a.        Import  .
b.        Export

Relation between Foreign Exchange & Foreign Trade:

 If Foreign Exchange means all the financial transactions in international market. Then Foreign Trade is a part of Foreign  Exchange. Then Foreign  Exchange means Foreign Currency, then it is the media  of Exchange  Foreign Trade.

 Local Regulations for Foreign Exchange:

Our Foreign Exchange transactions are being controlled by the following local regulations.
a. Foreign Exchange Regulation Act: Foreign Exchange Regulation (FER) Act. 1947 enacted on 11th March 1947 in the then British India, provides the legal basis for Regulating the Foreign Exchange. This  Act was adapted in Pakistan and lastly in Bangladesh.
b. Guidelines for Foreign Exchange Transaction: This Publication issued by Bangladesh Bank in the year 1996 in two volumes then revised &summarized in 2009, finally in 2018. This is a compilation of the instructions to be followed by the Authorized Dealers in Transactions relating to Foreign Exchange.

c. FE Circular: Bangladesh Bank issues F.E circular from time to time, to control the Export Import Business & Remittance, to control the Foreign Exchange.

d. Export-Import Policy: Ministry of Commerce issues Export Policy & Import Policy giving basic formalities for Import & Export business.
e. Public Notice: Some times CCI&E issues public Notice for any kind of change in Foreign Exchange Transaction.

J. Instructions from Different Ministry: Different Ministry of the Govt. sometimes instruct the Authorised Dealer directly or through Bangladesh Bank to follow something required for the Government.

g. Shariah Principle: Along with all the above regulations Islamic Bank also bound to follow the Principle of Islamic Shariah in Foreign Exchange.
i. Import and Export Control Act-1950.
j. Importers, Exporters and Indentors (Registration Order)- 1981.

International Regulations for F. Exchange

There are also some international organizations, influencing our Foreign Exchange transactions. Few of them are discussed bellow.
a.      ICC: International Chamber of Commerce is a worldwide Non-Governmental Organisation of thousands of companies. It was founded in 1919. ICC National committees throughout the World present ICC views to their Governments and alert Paris Headquarters to national business concerns. ICC has issued some publications like ISBP, UCPDC, URC& URR , Incoterms 2020 etc. which are being followed by all the member countries. There is also a international Court of Arbitration to solve the international business disputes.

b.      W.T.0: World Trade Organization is another International Trade Organization established on 1st January 1995 GATT (General Agreement on Tariff & Trade) was established on 01-01-1948 after completion of ifs 8th round; the organization has been abolished & replaced by WTO. This organisation has vital role in International Trade, through its 164 members countries.


Authorised Dealers & Money changers

Meaning: As per section 2 of foreign Exchange Regulation. Act 1947, Authorised Dealer means a person, for the time being authorised under section 3 to deal in Foreign Exchange. In other words Authorized Dealer means a Bank, authorized by Bangladesh Bank to deal in Foreign Exchange under the FER Act 1947. There are some persons or firms, authorised by Bangladesh Bank to deal in Foreign Exchange with limited scope, are called Authorised Money Changers.
Licence for Authorised Dealer

To get a Licence for Authorised dealer, a Bank will apply the General Manager, Foreign Exchange Policy Department,

Bangladesh Bank, Head Office, Dhaka complying the following conditions.

1. The Bank must have adequate manpower trained in Foreign Exchange.
                               2. Prospect to attract reasonable volume of Foreign Exchange business in the desired location.

3. The Bank meticulously complies with the instruction of Bangladesh Bank.
4.  The Bank will commit to deal in Foreign Exchange with in the limit & will submit periodical returns as  instructed by Bangladesh Bank.    
Functions of Authorised Dealer

Authorised Dealer can handle all kinds of Foreign Exchange transaction as per FER Act 1947 under the instruction of Bangladesh Bank. Following are the main function of an Authorised Dealer.
1.      Exchange of Foreign Currencies.
2.      To make arrangement with Foreign Correspondent.
3.      Buying & Selling Foreign Currencies
4.      Handling of Inward & Outward Remittance
5.      Opening of L/C & Settlement of Payment.
6.      Investment in Foreign Trade.
7.  Opening & Maintenance of Accounts with Foreign Banks 'under intimation to Bangladesh Bank.
8.     

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