Move to modernise, strengthen BSTI
Saturday, 6 November 2010
Monira Munni
The state-run standards watchdog has undertaken a programme to improve the quality of its certification for the sake of international acceptability, officials said.
Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) launched a Tk 720 million new project titled Modernisation and Strengthening of BSTI to build up capacity of the institution, they added.
"Our main target is to increase the acceptability of BSTI certification across the globe," AK Fazlul Ahad, director general of BSTI told the FE.
He said Tk 620 million would come from $ 1.0 billion credit given by India to Bangladesh and the remaining Tk 100 million would be funded by the government.
Syed Humayun Kabir, director (standards) of BSTI, said the umbrella project has been chalked out for laboratory and skilled manpower development.
Mr Kabir was one of the members of the 21-strong Bangladesh business delegation that visited India from October 21-24 led by Commerce Minister Faruk Khan.
During the visit, the business delegation made several agreements to boost trade in bordering areas of the two countries. Modernisation and strengthening of BSTI was one of the purposes of the visit.
"We have sent a list of 72 products - mainly cement, biscuits, processed foods and textile items - to the Indian certifying authorities for accreditation," the BSTI director said.
The BSTI has set up a well-equipped laboratory and applied to National Accreditation Board for Testing Laboratory (NABL) of India for certification of goods.
"We have developed our laboratories giving priority to all exportable products to India," the BSTI director said adding that after getting NABL competency certificate Bangladeshi products will get global acceptance as those products are also exported worldwide.
International acceptability of BSTI is essential to boost trade with the neighbouring countries because 75 per cent trade-related problems on Bangladesh-India trade would go when BSTI would be ready to test goods as per international standard.
In 2009, Bangladesh imported products worth $ 4.0 billion while exports stood only worth $ 330 million showing a trade deficit of $ 3.6 billion.
The state-run standards watchdog has undertaken a programme to improve the quality of its certification for the sake of international acceptability, officials said.
Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) launched a Tk 720 million new project titled Modernisation and Strengthening of BSTI to build up capacity of the institution, they added.
"Our main target is to increase the acceptability of BSTI certification across the globe," AK Fazlul Ahad, director general of BSTI told the FE.
He said Tk 620 million would come from $ 1.0 billion credit given by India to Bangladesh and the remaining Tk 100 million would be funded by the government.
Syed Humayun Kabir, director (standards) of BSTI, said the umbrella project has been chalked out for laboratory and skilled manpower development.
Mr Kabir was one of the members of the 21-strong Bangladesh business delegation that visited India from October 21-24 led by Commerce Minister Faruk Khan.
During the visit, the business delegation made several agreements to boost trade in bordering areas of the two countries. Modernisation and strengthening of BSTI was one of the purposes of the visit.
"We have sent a list of 72 products - mainly cement, biscuits, processed foods and textile items - to the Indian certifying authorities for accreditation," the BSTI director said.
The BSTI has set up a well-equipped laboratory and applied to National Accreditation Board for Testing Laboratory (NABL) of India for certification of goods.
"We have developed our laboratories giving priority to all exportable products to India," the BSTI director said adding that after getting NABL competency certificate Bangladeshi products will get global acceptance as those products are also exported worldwide.
International acceptability of BSTI is essential to boost trade with the neighbouring countries because 75 per cent trade-related problems on Bangladesh-India trade would go when BSTI would be ready to test goods as per international standard.
In 2009, Bangladesh imported products worth $ 4.0 billion while exports stood only worth $ 330 million showing a trade deficit of $ 3.6 billion.