DHAKA: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina suggested exporters improve the quality of their products to be more competitive globally and expanded products and markets to make the economy of the country stronger at the inaugural ceremony of the 20th Dhaka International Trade Fair at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the capital here the other day.
The prime minister also said the government will continue its support for the business community to create better opportunities for them.
“We have a plan to extend the Dhaka-Chittagong highway to six lanes soon,” she said, adding that the government is constructing eight more special economic zones across the country for attracting more local and foreign investment. “We are trying to improve infrastructure.” The construction work for upgrading the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway to four lanes will be completed by June, the premier said.
She also called upon businesses to increase exports of agricultural products such as vegetables. Such products fetch higher export earnings as those are produced entirely locally.
The government is working to reduce poverty by 10 percent within the next few years, she said. “We do not want to hear that Bangladesh is a poor country. We will be a middle-income country by 2021 and a developed country by 2041.”
Hasina also sought cooperation from businesses so that Bangladesh can reach the target of exporting $50 billion garments by 2021. The foreign exchange reserves stood at $22.39 billion on December 31, which is sufficient to pay the country’s import bills for seven months, she said.
Currently, Bangladesh has been exporting 729 types of products to 192 countries, which proves the country’s strength in the global trade, the prime minister added.
Companies from home and abroad will display their products at 500 stalls at the month-long show at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar. The organisers — the commerce ministry and Export Promotion Bureau — allocated 48 stalls to foreign companies and the rest to local firms.
Companies from 14 countries, including China, Malaysia, Iran, Thailand, the US, Turkey, Singapore, Australia and the UK are participating in the fair, which is open to visitors from 9am to 10pm at an entry fee of Tk 30 for adults and Tk 20 for minors. Products like machinery, carpets, cosmetics, electrical and electronics products, jute goods, leather and leather goods and footwear, toys, jewelleries, locally-made apparel items, processed foods, furniture and handicrafts will be sold in the show.
Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, Commerce Secretary Hedayetullah Al Mamoon and FBCCI President Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed also spoke.
