‘Accreditation a key tool for a strong export market’

Accreditation is an important tool for creating a strong export market and play a key role to ensure products quality and standard to be competitive in the international market, speakers said at a discussion.

Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI) and Bangladesh Accreditation Board (BAB) organised the discussion at DCCI auditorium marking the International Accreditation Day today, according to a press release.

They said Bangladesh's export target will be $100 billion in FY2025-26 and to attain this high export target accreditation, conformity assessment will play crucial role.

Accreditation is an integral part of the global quality assurance system, Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun said while addressing the event.

"In order to increase export of our locally made products in the international market, we need internationally accredited and credible national quality infrastructure."

If the quality of products and services can be ensured, then it would be easy to grab the international market, he said.

"In this era of free economy, many countries impose various 'technical barriers to trade' to protect their respective products and most of those are related with quality certification. Therefore, accreditation is currently an important tool for creating a strong export market."   

DCCI President Barrister Md Sameer Sattar said Bangladesh's total trade was $141.42 billion in the international market.

"Bangladesh is gradually progressing to an export oriented country from import dependent country. In the last fiscal year, Bangladesh's export was more than $52.08 billion. And for this export accreditation is very important tool," he said.

To show the quality of specific product, there is a need of internationally accredited certificate and these certificates play the pivotal role for boosting export, he added.

"After Bangladesh's graduation from LDC in 2026, maintaining compliance of our locally produced goods will be a great challenge. And to face this challenge and meet the GSP+ and other compliance criteria, accreditation will play the vital role."

He also stressed the need for capacity building and quality infrastructure of all testing labs as well as Bangladesh Accreditation Board.   

Industries Secretary Zakia Sultana, BAB Director General Md Monwarul Islam also spoke.

The motto of this year's accreditation day is "Accreditation: Supporting the Future of Global Trade".