A two-day exhibition titled 'Automobiles and Agro-Machinery Fair 2025 - Road to Made in Bangladesh' will kick off in the capital on Saturday, aiming to boost local manufacturing, reduce import dependency, and generate employment in the country's growing industrial sectors.
Organised by the Bangladesh Chamber of Industries (BCI), the fair will take place on the rooftop of Edison Prime Bhaban in Tejgaon Industrial Area, where the BCI office is located.
The event is being held with the support of the Bangladesh Automobiles Assemblers and Manufacturers Association (BAAMA) and the Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers Association - Bangladesh (AMMA-B).
Adilur Rahman Khan, Adviser to the Ministry of Industries, will inaugurate the fair as the chief guest on Saturday while Sk Bashir Uddin, Adviser to the Ministry of Commerce, will be present as the chief guest at the closing ceremony.
The exhibition will feature 26 stalls showcasing automobiles, agricultural machinery, and light engineering products, along with 12 additional stalls representing supporting industries.
BCI President Anwar-ul Alam Chowdhury (Parvez) announced the exhibition at a press conference on Thursday.
He said Bangladesh's light engineering sector comprises nearly 50,000 units, employing around one million people.
"The domestic market for light engineering is worth approximately US$12 billion, with local manufacturers meeting half the demand. With the global market valued at around US$8 trillion, there is enormous scope for export growth," he said.
Highlighting the potential of agricultural mechanisation, he said modern technology can significantly boost productivity, generate employment, and enhance export growth.
"Similarly, the automobile sector has many sub-sectors where innovation and reduced import dependence could lead to comprehensive industrial development. If we can fully harness the potential of these industries, they can trigger an economic transformation for Bangladesh," the BCI president added.
Alimul Ahsan Chowdhury, President of AMMA-B, stressed the need for mechanisation in agriculture, saying that farmland is shrinking every year. Farmers are aging, as fewer young people are joining agriculture.
"In many countries around the world, less than 10 per cent of the total population is engaged in farming -- and that 10 per cent of the people are providing food for the remaining 90 per cent. For this reason, the use of machinery is increasing. In Bangladesh too, the use of machinery in agriculture is rising, but a large portion still has to be imported," he said.
He also said that in Bangladesh, the market for agricultural machinery is worth Tk 12-15 billion, but domestic firms are supplying only Tk 4.0-4.5 billion worth of machinery.
With the right policy support, this capacity can be significantly expanded, he added.
The fair will also host two seminars: one on September 20 focusing on strengthening backward linkages for automobiles and agro-machinery, and another on September 21 exploring global best practices and Bangladesh's potential in these sectors.
BCI leaders said that the event will serve as a vital platform for policymakers, entrepreneurs, and industry stakeholders to exchange ideas, identify challenges, and advocate for policy reforms aimed at fostering industrial growth.
BCI Directors Shahidul Islam Niru, S. M. Shah Alam Mukul, Dr. Delowar Hossain Raja, Zia Hayder Mithu, Shahid Alam, and Nazmul Anwar were present at the press briefing.
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