Country achieves self-reliance in cable output

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Shah Alam Nur The country has almost achieved self-sufficiency in cable production in the recent time and now ready to export the surplus after meeting the local demands. More then 98 per cent of domestic needs are being met from the local cable companies. A good number of country's cable companies have started drive to export the item to many countries. The 6th International Electrical Product, Machinery & Raw Materials Tradeshow (ELPROTECH- 2013) concluded on Monday in the city and the local electrical goods manufacturers have displayed different quality home- made electrical goods. The three-day fair was organiged jointly by the Bangladesh Electrical Merchandise Manufacturers' Association (BEMMA) and Bangladesh Engineering Industry Owners' Association (BEIOA) at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre. At the fair the local participant companies have displayed many locally produced electrical items including electrical accessories, sub-station equipment, household electrical appliances, tube light and incandescent bulb, electrical and electronic ballast, supper enamel copper wire, energy saving bulb, voltage stabiliser, electric cables, electric motor, electric meter, transformers, light fittings, electrical fan, capacitor, IPS-UPS and varnish. "Country's cable industry is now self-sufficient", BEMMA president Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan told the FE adding country's cable industry is at the last edge to be self -sufficient in producing all kinds of cables. He said local companies have been meeting more than 98 per cent of domestic demand. "There is a huge prospect of exporting electric cable abroad and we need government help in this regard", he said. The industry insider said at the ELPROTECH-2013 the local companies displayed all types of cables including XLPE & PVC Insulated LT & HT Cables, FRLS Cables, House and Appliances Wiring Cables, Dry & Jelly filled Telecommunication Cables, Instrumentation Cables, Aluminium Overhead Conductors, Dual Coated Super Enamelled Copper Wire (Winding Wire) and Marine Type Cables. Omar Faruqe, General Manager of BBS Cables Ltd said: "Local Cable companies can produce all kinds of cables and the situation has changed and we have begun exporting the item to many countries including South Africa and Chile". He said many of high value electrical items are now being produced in Bangladesh which has a great demand at home and abroad. Chairman of BRB Cable Industries Ltd Mozibar Rahman said country's cable industry has a huge prospect for exporting cable and they need government help in this regard. He said to protect and inspire the local cable industry the government should increase tax on imported items. Mr Rahman said tax on raw materials should be withdrawn for reducing the production costs of cable. He said in the last few years this sector managed double digit growth and it has a very potential export market throughout the world. According to BEMMA, 120 companies are making cable in the country which employed more than 50,000 people.