Plastic sector eyes global market
Tuesday, 25 August 2009
Kazi Azizul Islam
THE plastic sector, which is on the 12th position in the country's export earners' list with an annual earning of Tk 12 billion (1,200 crore), is going to get a boost as two global superstores are eyeing Bangladesh market for importing plastic products.
Paris-based Carrefour, world's second largest supermarket chain after Wal-Mart, has started negotiations with one of Bangladesh's top plastic goods manufacturers to source plastic house wares.
This particular manufacturer, the licensee of the A&E, world's number one US brand for apparel hangers, also serves the local export-oriented garment manufacturers.
Stockholm-based IKEA, the global home furnishing leader, has, meanwhile, showed its intention to source house wares of easily shipable plastic goods from a number of Bangladeshi manufacturers.
After developing their base, some Bangladeshi companies have started manufacturing plastic furniture and plastic accessories for domestic market. Some consignments of such products have already been exported.
Eyeing the growing local market, some domestic plastic goods manufacturers have also recently started production of house wares including baskets, buckets and treys.
"Export of plastic goods, worth several billion dollars, is possible if the government supports the industry," said Bangladesh Plastic Goods Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BPGMEA) president, Jashim Uddin.
China's earning from the export of plastics goods, including toys and house wares, is not much less than her export earnings from textiles or garments sectors, he noted while pointing out that the Chinese manufacturers have lost their competitive edge in many ways in recent times, creating a large scope for Bangladesh to grab a significant share in global plastic goods market.
Many global superstore chains, including Wal-Mart and TESCO, import apparels from Bangladesh and they may also be interested in importing plastic goods from the country if dependable capacity on sourcing is developed here, say business sources.
The BPGMEA submitted earlier a detailed proposal to the commerce ministry to take some policy measures for promoting exports of products of their members on a sustained basis. The suggestions include allowing duty-free import of raw materials for plastic industry, establishing plastic testing laboratory, accelerating the implementation of proposed plastic industry estate and easing duty draw back procedures for small exporters. These merit priority attention of the authorities concerned.
THE plastic sector, which is on the 12th position in the country's export earners' list with an annual earning of Tk 12 billion (1,200 crore), is going to get a boost as two global superstores are eyeing Bangladesh market for importing plastic products.
Paris-based Carrefour, world's second largest supermarket chain after Wal-Mart, has started negotiations with one of Bangladesh's top plastic goods manufacturers to source plastic house wares.
This particular manufacturer, the licensee of the A&E, world's number one US brand for apparel hangers, also serves the local export-oriented garment manufacturers.
Stockholm-based IKEA, the global home furnishing leader, has, meanwhile, showed its intention to source house wares of easily shipable plastic goods from a number of Bangladeshi manufacturers.
After developing their base, some Bangladeshi companies have started manufacturing plastic furniture and plastic accessories for domestic market. Some consignments of such products have already been exported.
Eyeing the growing local market, some domestic plastic goods manufacturers have also recently started production of house wares including baskets, buckets and treys.
"Export of plastic goods, worth several billion dollars, is possible if the government supports the industry," said Bangladesh Plastic Goods Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BPGMEA) president, Jashim Uddin.
China's earning from the export of plastics goods, including toys and house wares, is not much less than her export earnings from textiles or garments sectors, he noted while pointing out that the Chinese manufacturers have lost their competitive edge in many ways in recent times, creating a large scope for Bangladesh to grab a significant share in global plastic goods market.
Many global superstore chains, including Wal-Mart and TESCO, import apparels from Bangladesh and they may also be interested in importing plastic goods from the country if dependable capacity on sourcing is developed here, say business sources.
The BPGMEA submitted earlier a detailed proposal to the commerce ministry to take some policy measures for promoting exports of products of their members on a sustained basis. The suggestions include allowing duty-free import of raw materials for plastic industry, establishing plastic testing laboratory, accelerating the implementation of proposed plastic industry estate and easing duty draw back procedures for small exporters. These merit priority attention of the authorities concerned.