Developing furniture making sector

---

Not only the foreign market, the local furniture industry appears to be experiencing rapid growth also in the local markets with its tasteful, durable and innovative products. The upper middle class and the rich are increasingly showing preference for domestically-made furniture. It was estimated that this budding sector, through expanding production for the local and domestic markets, can employ about a large number of people in the near future.

Furniture-making with wood in most cases is contraindicated by the need to consolidate the gains from afforestation programmes. Wood substitutes are being made in the country and some are imported. In both cases, the government can scale down duties, taxes, levies, etc., on these substitute products so that the furniture-makers can get incentives to produce more by taking advantages of these fiscal measures or getting raw materials at a cheaper price. Furthermore, the government should increase capacities at polytechnics and other institutions for a much greater number of young persons to learn carpentry and other skills related to furniture making. The government should officially give recognition to furniture-making as an industry and extend all sorts of facilities and preferential treatments that are usually given to a prospective new industry to promote its growth.

Rubina Ahmed

Banani, Dhaka