6-day national furniture fair kicks off tomorrow
Sunday, 5 December 2010
FE Report
Furniture makers urged Saturday the government to bring down taxes on imported raw materials for furnishers and formulate a reasonable tariff policy to encourage exports.
A pragmatic tariff policy will help local furnishers to rival with importers, leaders of the industry group said.
They also said although the local furniture industry has developed in terms of quality and technological advancement, the price is still beyond the reach of the middle class, thanks mainly to taxes and VAT as high as 55 per cent.
"It (taxes) should come down to 25 per cent to make furniture prices affordable for local consumers and competitive for exports," said Selim H Rahman, general secretary of Bangladesh Furniture Industries Owners' Association (BAFIOA).
His remarks came at a press meet in the city on the eve of National Furniture Fair 2010, scheduled for tomorrow (Monday). The association has organised the fair, managed by Design and Technology Centre (DTC).
Mohammed Ullah, treasurer and convener fair committee and Atif Dewan Rashid, managing director of DTC, were present, among others, at the press meet. Association chairman KM Akhtaruzzaman was also present.
The six-day fair will take place at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre, which will be inaugurated by industries minister Dilip Barua.
The main objective of this year's fair is to mount awareness and demand both nationally and globally for the high quality Bangladeshi furniture, leaders said.
Some 160 stalls of 78 top local furniture manufacturers producing furniture of wood, cane, plastic, steel and plywood materials will be set up at the venue.
"Our achievement is not only the creation of employment opportunity, but also saving foreign currencies," said Akhtaruzzaman.
Akhtaruzzaman, also managing director of Akhtar Furniture, said the trade body has struck partnership with Export Promotion Bureau, Commerce Ministry and Katalyst to make world class furniture and promote exports.
At present, the total turnover of furniture including imported and local ones is around Tk 40 billion (4000 crore).
The sector, dominated by 30,000-odd local furniture manufacturers, employs about 100,000 people.
Including indirect employment, Akhtaruzzaman said nearly 2.0 million people depend on the sector for their livelihood.
Furniture makers urged Saturday the government to bring down taxes on imported raw materials for furnishers and formulate a reasonable tariff policy to encourage exports.
A pragmatic tariff policy will help local furnishers to rival with importers, leaders of the industry group said.
They also said although the local furniture industry has developed in terms of quality and technological advancement, the price is still beyond the reach of the middle class, thanks mainly to taxes and VAT as high as 55 per cent.
"It (taxes) should come down to 25 per cent to make furniture prices affordable for local consumers and competitive for exports," said Selim H Rahman, general secretary of Bangladesh Furniture Industries Owners' Association (BAFIOA).
His remarks came at a press meet in the city on the eve of National Furniture Fair 2010, scheduled for tomorrow (Monday). The association has organised the fair, managed by Design and Technology Centre (DTC).
Mohammed Ullah, treasurer and convener fair committee and Atif Dewan Rashid, managing director of DTC, were present, among others, at the press meet. Association chairman KM Akhtaruzzaman was also present.
The six-day fair will take place at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre, which will be inaugurated by industries minister Dilip Barua.
The main objective of this year's fair is to mount awareness and demand both nationally and globally for the high quality Bangladeshi furniture, leaders said.
Some 160 stalls of 78 top local furniture manufacturers producing furniture of wood, cane, plastic, steel and plywood materials will be set up at the venue.
"Our achievement is not only the creation of employment opportunity, but also saving foreign currencies," said Akhtaruzzaman.
Akhtaruzzaman, also managing director of Akhtar Furniture, said the trade body has struck partnership with Export Promotion Bureau, Commerce Ministry and Katalyst to make world class furniture and promote exports.
At present, the total turnover of furniture including imported and local ones is around Tk 40 billion (4000 crore).
The sector, dominated by 30,000-odd local furniture manufacturers, employs about 100,000 people.
Including indirect employment, Akhtaruzzaman said nearly 2.0 million people depend on the sector for their livelihood.