Bangladesh to export car parts

Bangladesh is set to export automobile parts and accessories to the US market, which is expected to boost the light engineering industry.
Sample products including bumper bracket, rubber brush and suspension kits will be produced as part of the first order worth $15,000 for New Milbert International Inc, a US company.
Few other products -- piston, moulding, fender and mirror -- will be exported to the US in phases.
Bangladesh Engineering Industry Owners Association, Bangladesh Industrial Technical Assistance Centre (BITAC) and New Milbert International Inc yesterday signed a tripartite deal.
Industries Minister Dilip Barua was present at the signing ceremony.
"We are impressed by the potential of the local light engineering sector. We have ordered few samples of automobile accessories. If they can deliver the order successfully, a wide door will open for Bangladesh," said Nishan Rahim, managing partner of New Milbert International.
Abdur Razzaque, president of BEIOA, Dr Ihsanul Karim, assistant director of BITAC, were the other signatories to the deal.
New Milbert International sources parts mainly from India and Taiwan and supplies them to the US market.
BITAC will provide equipment makers with support in designing and automation.
The light engineering sector has flourished from almost nothing to a multi-crore taka business since independence in 1971.
The sector makes products ranging from automated teller machine frames, pharmaceutical packaging machines, machinery for garment sector and rice mills, automobile spare parts, power looms and machinery for paint industry.
It also produces machinery for making ballpoint pens, furniture, bakery equipments, flourmills, CD and DVD covers, plastic baskets and carriers.
The sector manufactures around 10,000 types of items worth $120 million a year for the local industry.