Plastic product manufacturing industry

Higher productivity, skills dev, innovation key to sustainability

FE Team | Published: January 27, 2024 22:26:29

FE REPORT
Productivity enhancement, skills development and continuous innovation are vital to the sustainability of the plastic goods-manufacturing sector in the country, speakers told a programme in the capital on Saturday.
They also said that all the large or small stakeholders should be fully compliant to cope with the challenges ahead in line with the country's journey towards LDC graduation soon.
They made the observations at the closing ceremony of the four-day Bangladesh International Plastic, Packaging and Printing Industrial Fair 2024 held at the International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB) in the city.
Bangladesh Plastic Goods Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BPGMEA) and Yorkers Trade and Marketing Service Company Limited organised the show, aiming to create greater interactions among stakeholders from home and abroad.
Chairman of Bengal Group of Industries Morshed Alam, MP was present in the programme as the chief guest.
President of the SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) Jashim Uddin, president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Mahbubul Alam and Luna Plastic managing director ASM Kamal Uddin were present there as the special guests.
Among others, BPGMEA president Shamim Ahmed, its senior vice-president KM Iqbal Hossain and president of Yorkers Trade and Marketing Service Judy Wang spoke on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Morshed Alam said manufacturers should focus on adoption of newer technologies as everything is going through transformation.
"Be time-befitting to sustain with your respective businesses," said Mr Alam who has been involved in the plastic goods-manufacturing sector for over five decades.
Addressing the function, Jashim Uddin said per capita plastic consumption in Bangladesh is still lower than that of the developed countries, indicating a huge potential of the sector in the coming days.
"The future sustainability of the sector now largely depends on the sector becoming productive, innovative and skilled," he said.
Not only workers but also officials, especially midlevel ones, should be more skilful for the sustainability of the sector, he said, adding that many initiatives are being implemented.
Highlighting the recent economy trend in the country, including dearth of foreign currency, he said it is high time for the country to focus on strengthening import substitute sectors.
In his speech, Mahbubul Alam requested the stakeholders to conduct research and development for recycling of plastic waste.
"Plastic is now a part of parcel of our lives. So, there is no denial of its importance, rather prudent use is essential," he said.
Shamim Ahmed said four seminars on skills development, SME development, digital-to-smart Bangladesh transformation and green growth of plastic sector were held on the sidelines of the event.
"Despite being an industrial fair, the event drew over 30,000 people as of Saturday afternoon," he said.
Some local and international participants were also given awards in the closing ceremony.
According to the organisers, representatives from 20 countries, including China, Taiwan, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Vietnam, Indonesia, South Korea, the UK, the USA, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Turkey, and the UAE, took part in the fair.
The event hosted 800 stalls of 600 foreign companies and 161 stalls of 54 domestic companies. Best stalls among the participants were accorded with accolades.
The Financial Express was one of the five media partners of the IPF 2024.
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