Value chain can ensure production of quality products : Speakers

RANGPUR, Aug 25 (BSS) : Speakers at an idea generation workshop Monday stressed for an effective value chain system and coordination among the stakeholders involved with local garments and handicraft sectors to ensure production and marketing of quality products.
They emphasised on formation of a regional platform of all actors including the producers, entrepreneurs and traders involved with production and marketing processes of cotton craft products by linking them under one umbrella to enhance these sectors.
Rangpur Regional Office of HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation organised the workshop under 'Samridhhi' project on 'Formation of Platform of Stakeholders involved with Production and Marketing of Cotton Crafts Products' at Caspia Home in the city.
Seventy officials and representatives of government,  non-government organisations, private sectors, businesspersons, small scale entrepreneurs, cotton crafts, handloom and garments workers from all over Rangpur division participated in the workshop arranged with financial assistance of Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.
Rangpur Regional Coordinator of 'Samridhhi' project Mamunur Rashid delivered welcome speech, told goals and objectives of the workshop for improving relation and coordination among all involved stakeholders to create a win-win situation.
Youth Development Officer of Rangpur Sadar Upazila Tahmina Shirin, Programme Officer of District Women Affairs Office Laila Akhter Banu and Senior Reporter of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) Mamun Islam addressed as invited guests.
Associate Coordinator -Monitoring and Result Measurement of 'Samridhhi' project Tahmidur Rahman Ratan delivered keynote presentation explaining ways for resolving the problems being faced by the stakeholders involved with production and marketing of cotton crafts.
He explained  work plans and steps taken and achieved successes in resolving the prevailing problems and discussed various reasons in favour of formation of a regional level platform of the involved stakeholders.
Proprietors Abu Bakar Siddik of 'Students Care Garments', Hazrat Ali of 'Bhai Bhai Handloom', Yahhiya Iqbal of 'Azmal Sajghor and Iqbal Zorry House' and Saiful Alam of 'Soft Tech Handicrafts' of different districts narrated their experiences.
Entrepreneurs Chandona Ghosh, Rokeya Begum, Babul Debnath, Shilpi Begum and Shahana Begum and Abdus Sahed and 'Karchupi' artisan Arzina Begum told their experiences and problems with suggestions.
The speakers emphasised the need for strengthening the local service providing and value chain systems and enhancing capacity of local service providers, service providers' associations and entrepreneurs and collaboration among all stakeholders to further flourish the sector.
Regional Coordinator of 'Samridhhi' project Mamunur Rashid  stressed for formation of a Rangpur regional level platform of cotton crafts stakeholders to strengthen mutual trust and coordination among them to influence market systems for benefiting each of them.