Economic Reporter :
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday announced ‘Light Engineering’ as the product of the year for 2020 to give special attention to this sector for earning more foreign currencies by exporting various products.
“As a part of export policy, we are declaring “Light Engineering” as the product of 2020 aimed at encouraging the product based export while we are calling for more investment,” she said after inaugurating the 25th Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF) organised by Commerce Ministry and Export Promotion Bureau at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC).
The prime minister said that the light engineering products such as bicycle, motorcycle, automobile, auto-parts, electric and electronics, accumulator battery, solar photovoltaic module and toys have the potential of attracting more investment.
She said importance were earlier given on leather and leather goods, jute and jute goods and other products, adding, “But, this year we are giving importance on the light engineering as it has also huge potential of attracting investment.”
She later visited different stalls and pavilion including the “Bangabandhu Pavilion” installed at the venue for presenting the life and works of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman marking the celebration of Bangabandhu’s birth centenary.
Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi, Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce Ministry Tofail Ahmed, Secretary of the ministry Dr Md Jafar Uddin, Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) President Sheikh Fazle Fahim and Vice Chairman of Export Processing Bureau (EPB), Fatima Yasmin, spoke on the occasion.
Traders from over 21 countries, including India, Bhutan, Pakistan, China, the United States, the United Kingdom, Nepal, Japan, Australia, Germany, Hong Kong and Arab Emirates are taking part in the fair.
Sheikh Hasina stressed the need for stopping dependency on one or two products for export and said, “We are giving special focus on producing much more products considering the demand of the local and neighbouring countries’ market to increase number of export items.”
Describing leather and leather goods, products of shoe industries, light engineering and plastic as the four highly potential sectors for boosting export, the premier said she believed that the commerce ministry’s project ‘Export Competitiveness for Jobs’ will create scope for the sectors to increase export.
“I believe ICT will be the largest sector for us in the future and we will be able to earn huge foreign currency by exporting its products. So, we have taken measures such as imparting training, setting high tech parks, and creating manpower to give the sector a strong footing,” the Prime Minister said.
She further said, “We want more investment in this sector. If the private sector, local and foreign investors show interest in investing in the sector, we will provide them every necessary support.”
Sheikh Hasina said her government has given priority to the production of agro-processed and handloom items to expand the export basket, adding, “We are giving special attention to the sectors due to having their potential in terms of export.”
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday announced ‘Light Engineering’ as the product of the year for 2020 to give special attention to this sector for earning more foreign currencies by exporting various products.
“As a part of export policy, we are declaring “Light Engineering” as the product of 2020 aimed at encouraging the product based export while we are calling for more investment,” she said after inaugurating the 25th Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF) organised by Commerce Ministry and Export Promotion Bureau at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC).
The prime minister said that the light engineering products such as bicycle, motorcycle, automobile, auto-parts, electric and electronics, accumulator battery, solar photovoltaic module and toys have the potential of attracting more investment.
She said importance were earlier given on leather and leather goods, jute and jute goods and other products, adding, “But, this year we are giving importance on the light engineering as it has also huge potential of attracting investment.”
She later visited different stalls and pavilion including the “Bangabandhu Pavilion” installed at the venue for presenting the life and works of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman marking the celebration of Bangabandhu’s birth centenary.
Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi, Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce Ministry Tofail Ahmed, Secretary of the ministry Dr Md Jafar Uddin, Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) President Sheikh Fazle Fahim and Vice Chairman of Export Processing Bureau (EPB), Fatima Yasmin, spoke on the occasion.
Traders from over 21 countries, including India, Bhutan, Pakistan, China, the United States, the United Kingdom, Nepal, Japan, Australia, Germany, Hong Kong and Arab Emirates are taking part in the fair.
Sheikh Hasina stressed the need for stopping dependency on one or two products for export and said, “We are giving special focus on producing much more products considering the demand of the local and neighbouring countries’ market to increase number of export items.”
Describing leather and leather goods, products of shoe industries, light engineering and plastic as the four highly potential sectors for boosting export, the premier said she believed that the commerce ministry’s project ‘Export Competitiveness for Jobs’ will create scope for the sectors to increase export.
“I believe ICT will be the largest sector for us in the future and we will be able to earn huge foreign currency by exporting its products. So, we have taken measures such as imparting training, setting high tech parks, and creating manpower to give the sector a strong footing,” the Prime Minister said.
She further said, “We want more investment in this sector. If the private sector, local and foreign investors show interest in investing in the sector, we will provide them every necessary support.”
Sheikh Hasina said her government has given priority to the production of agro-processed and handloom items to expand the export basket, adding, “We are giving special attention to the sectors due to having their potential in terms of export.”
