A three-day long "'Advanced Technology Solution- ATS Expo 2024" kicked off on Thursday at Bashundhara International Convention Center's Hall-3 in Dhaka.

National Board of Revenue (NBR) Chairman Md. Abdur Rahman Khan inaugurated the expo as chief guest while Walton Hi-Tech Industries PLC's Vice-Chairman S M Ashraful Alam and Managing Director S M Mahbubul Alam, Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority's Chairman Mahmudul Hasan, Woori Bank's Country Head Jin Hur, Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC's Chief Executive Officer Najith Meewanage, foreign diplomates Samar Abderrezak and Toum Sofiane were also present.

Addressing the function, NBR Chairman Md. Abdur Rahman Khan said, "Walton has made Bangladesh proud and honoured. Walton is working as an ambassador of Bangladesh in global arena through exporting electronics products to many countries of the world. Visiting ATS Expo today, I got a great idea about the capabilities of Bangladesh. Bangladesh has advanced a lot in the production of technology products. Walton isn't just going ahead; they are also working to assist other industrial sectors in moving forward."

In his inaugural speech, Walton Hi-Tech's MD SM Mahbubul Alam said: Walton produces all sorts of industrial materials and components including finished products, raw-materials, software, hardware, and packaging items in its own advanced manufacturing plants. Walton is capable to supply those of the electrical and electronics products to the concerned industries in home and abroad. We arranged ATS Expo to highlight Walton's abilities among the local and internation buyers as well as reduce the country's import dependency in this sector.

He also said that the local industries can use all of the industrial materials and components manufactured by Walton. They don't need to import such products from other countries. Thus, the local industries can reduce costs and save their time. On the other hand, Bangladesh can save huge foreign currency with decreasing imports.

Emphasizing to enact laws in a bid to protect the real manufacturers against the assemblers, he called upon the government authorities to continue the policy support for the local real manufacturers.

Walton Hi-Tech's vice-chairman SM Ashraful Alam said that our target is to introduce Bangladesh with effective manners in the global arena through this expo. Walton is able to manufacture the best products with its best abilities. We've showcased all of our industrial materials and components to the world stage through Las Vegas, Canton and Frankfurt fairs. The world will now identify Bangladesh as a global hub of manufacturing electronics products.

At the expo, Walton is showcasing more than 50,000 industrial materials, components, testing labs and other services, along with advanced featured electronics and electrical appliances. The three-day long ATS expo will continue till December 7, 2024.