71 firms win National Export Trophy
Seventy-one exporters won the National Export Trophy today in recognition of their contribution to the country's overseas trade through higher sales, the addition of new products and markets, and maintaining compliance in the financial year of 2018-19.
The commerce ministry and its agency Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) jointly honoured them at the Bangabandhu Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Centre in Purbachal.
Of the winners that represent 29 sectors, 29 won the trophies in the gold category, 24 in silver and 18 in the bronze category.
Among all the exporters, Rifat Garments Limited, a company of Ha-Meem Group, was crowned with the "Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Export Trophy" for fetching $250 million in receipts and showing stellar performances in other indicators. Its shipment growth stood at 18.95 per cent, year-on-year.
Universal Jeans, Badsha Textiles, Zaber & Zubair Fabrics, GMS Composite Knitting, Envoy Textiles, and Square Textiles were also among the gold trophy winners.
Other winners include Akij Jute Mills, Pran Dairy, Bay Footwear, Noman Terry Towel Mills, Energypac Engineering, Bengal Plastics, Jalalabad Frozen Foods, Mir Telecom, Beximco Pharmaceuticals, Tasnim Chemicals Complex, Uniglory Cycle Component, Picard Bangladesh, Apex Tannery, and Karupanya Rangpur.
"Exporters are playing an important role in the economic development of the country by way of investing and creating jobs," said Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi while addressing the event.
He said the government has taken various steps to overcome the current economic crisis.
"You [businessmen] are struggling. But there is no way to be left behind. We must move forward."
He said the government was relentlessly working to make the country economically strong and establish a dignified position in the world market.
After 2026, duty-free market access for Bangladesh as a least-developed country will not exist, according to the minister. "But opportunities never cease to exist. It is only necessary to find them and work together," he said.
At the event, businesspeople called for developing a skilled workforce, boosting research and innovation, and adding new products in order to enhance the country's competitiveness.
Md Jashim Uddin, president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry, suggested improving the skills of workers to attain further economic progress.
"There is a need to create skilled workers and gain skills in business management."
Jashim said special attention should be given to the manufacturing and agriculture sectors for economic stability.
"Unnecessary expenditures and the import of luxury goods should be reduced."
After the country's graduation to a developing nation, the export sector, which is one of the largest job providers in the country, Bangladesh would face competition in terms of price and quality, according to the FBCCI chief.
"The backward linkage industry should be established to enhance value-addition," he said.
AK Azad, chairman and chief executive officer of Ha-Meem Group, one of the largest garment exporters in Bangladesh, said due to the Russia-Ukraine war, there has been a slowdown in business.
"The main market of Bangladesh is Europe where 71 per cent of consumers have cut their budgets. Under the circumstances, they have cut imports. If the current trend persists, the risk for a sharp decline in exports would deepen."
The negotiation power of local suppliers has lessened because of lower sales, the US dollar crunch, and the energy crisis, said the entrepreneur.
"Whatever orders are available are being accepted."
AHM Ahsan, vice-chairman of the EPB, said: "We are delighted for the success of businesspeople. The government is working to expand the market by identifying the problems in the field of exports and solving them."
The award was presented to encourage exporters to strive for shipping more goods and services, said Tapan Kanti Ghosh, senior secretary of the commerce ministry.
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