Electrical goods export jump

Exports of electrical goods rose 42.34 per cent year-on-year to $41.93 million in the July to January period of the current fiscal year, in a testament to Bangladesh's growing prowess in the technological sector.

The export receipts were $29.34 million during the same period a year ago, data from the Export Promotion Bureaus showed.

Industry people credited the initiatives of entrepreneurs and continuous development of products for helping the country widen its export basket.

"By virtue of quality products and the efforts of the manufacturers, the electrical goods industry reached this level," said Rabiul Alam, director and chief executive officer of Energypac Engineering Ltd.    

Energypac Engineering exports transformers and other electrical products to India, Nepal, and Malaysia.

Alam sees a good prospectus for the industry as the export might go up in the coming days as the quality of locally made products was improving.

According to him, the quality of the products made by Energypac Engineering is tested by an internationally recognised firm.

Although the local market is expanding rapidly, the export is still insignificant in terms of volume, he said.

Companies in Bangladesh export more than 30 types of electrical products, said Sohel Rana, chief executive officer of Walton Electric Appliance.

The company exports electrical items to Nepal, Yemen, and East Timor and is now in talks with the buyers in India and some countries in Africa, the Middle East and Europe.

Rana said just a decade ago, the electrical goods market in Bangladesh was reliant on imports. "Now, Bangladesh exports electrical products."

"We export the products under our brand's name as well as the buyer's brand name," he said.

KMG Kibria, assistant general manager of Minister Hi-Tech Park, said the company was working to export electrical products.

Bangladesh exports electrical products such as cables, distribution boards, transformers, switch gears, wires, insulators, fans, heat and speed control systems, magnetic contractors, switches, and irons.

Other export-oriented products include tube lights, filament bulbs, light fittings, table lamps, water heaters, torch lights, and lift equipment.