HPM Sheikh Hasina for diversification of export items

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday asked entrepreneurs to identify new market demands and trends across the world to diversify the country’s export items.

"We have to find out through market research what new items we can produce to give a big boost to our exports…we need to focus on that,” she said.

The prime minister said this while inaugurating the Bangladesh Trade and Investment Summit 2021 at Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC). She joined the program from her official residence Ganabhaban.

The Commerce Ministry and the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) jointly arranged the weeklong summit to mark the Mujib Year and the Golden Jubilee of the country’s independence, aiming to connect traders and investors from around the world.

Sheikh Hasina said exporters have to identify which country looks for what type of products, and the producers and manufacturers should think about producing those items.

“I request business organizations, especially the private sector, to give due attention to this issue because, I think, we need to increase the number of items in our export basket,” she said.

Hasina also mentioned that different countries have different demands. “Bangladesh is such a country where we can do (produce) anything if we want…I’ve that confidence,” she said.

Talking about Bangladesh’s geographical position, the prime minister said domestic and foreign investors can export their items to South Asian and South East Asian countries from here.

“They’ll get opportunities to grab the markets in these countries and export items,” she said.

Hasina mentioned that Bangladesh will become a bridge between the east and the west in the future. “This will help us flourish our trade and business further,” she said.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi, prime minister’s Private Industries and Investment Affairs Adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman, Commerce Secretary Tapan Kanti Ghosh, President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Md Jasim Uddin, and DCCI President Rizwan Rahman were present at the inaugural session.

A video was screened at the event highlighting the development in trade, business and investment in the country.

A total of 552 companies from 38 countries, including Bangladesh, from five continents will participate in 450 business-to-business (B2B) match-making sessions, which will help explore new business opportunities in Bangladesh and attract Foreign direct investment (FDI) to the country.