Exploring market for Bangladeshi products

When people of a neighbouring country like Nepal had insufficient knowledge of the products Bangladesh produces, the situation in other countries can easily be imagined. It is the recently-held Bangladesh-Nepal Expo 2015 that has largely been able to remove the mistaken idea of many of the Nepalese about Bangladesh's product-base. The Nepalese thought that their South Asian neighbour was only good at producing readymade garments and Jamdani saree -- nothing else. But on conclusion of the fair where 80 business houses from Bangladesh showcased their array of products, they now know that the country has made a commendable stride in manufacturing industrial goods. Apart from the two items the host country thought were its neighbour's speciality, there were on display pharmaceuticals, frozen sea foods, handicrafts, textiles, cosmetics, ceramic, melamine and plastic products, foods and beverage, herbal items etc,. Why footwear has not represented the country is incomprehensible. Bangladesh has done well in the footwear sector too.

Now here is a lesson from the Expo held in Nepal. The trade volume with that country is not very large yet. Estimated at $40 million, the volume can definitely be raised several times through concerted efforts. Such industrial expositions held earlier were on a small scale. This time it was on a wider scale and this has been able to capture the attention of the common people in the host country. Some of the items like medicines, ceramic, melamine and plastic goods in particular may have a very good market in Nepal. Maybe, footwear made in Bangladesh too will enjoy popularity in that country. As members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), the two countries have every reason to enhance trade between them. If they can use an Indian trade corridor for the purpose, such bilateral trades will receive a shot in the arm. Now that India has been using Bangladesh territory as a transit route, the latter can naturally expect the former to return the favour.

There is yet another lesson, though, to be derived from the Expo in Nepal. This concerns the wider global vision for exploration of market for non-traditional products from Bangladesh. If the neighbouring Nepalese remain in the dark about the industrial capacity of Bangladesh, how is it in other countries with larger markets? Admittedly, market exploration for the country has not been intensive and incisive enough in many parts of the world. The Nepalese experience amply highlights this fact. So it is time to do enough homework for market exploration in countries where there is a potential demand for Bangladeshi products. True, some of the countries like Russia and Romania have been added to the list of importers of a few Bangladeshi products like readymade garments. The efforts should be sustained in order to find fresh pastures where Bangladeshi products can easily venture into. All the country needs is to man its trade wings in embassies abroad with people who have drive and creative urge to further the horizon of trade and promote goods made in Bangladesh.