Plastic fair kicks off

A fair to display plastic products began yesterday in Dhaka.
Household appliances, furniture, industrial mould, plastic raw materials, agricultural tools and machinery are occupying the premises of Bangabandhu International Conference Centre, where about 350 local and foreign firms are participating.
The 6th version of Dhaka International Plastic, Packaging and Printing Industrial Fair, a four-day event, aims to accelerate growth of the export earning plastic industry, which is believed to have created nearly 10,00,000 direct and indirect jobs in about 3,000 small and medium enterprises.
Bangladesh Plastic Goods Manufacturers and Exporters Association and Chan Chao International Co Ltd jointly organised the event, inaugurated by Finance Minister AMA Muhith.
The minister advocated conducting a comprehensive study to determine the future path of the sector.
Industries Minister Dilip Barua was also present.
“Plastic products are not biodegradable, so it carries the risk of affecting the environment. We should determine our stance on the plastic industry by involving stakeholders and scientists,” he told the inaugural ceremony.
“On the basis of it (stance), policy support issues can be considered,” said Muhith, who observed that about 40 percent of plastic products are not recycled and harm ecological balance.
“Plastic has destroyed the Buriganga River because we were not aware of its effects,” said Muhith.
His remarks came after plastic goods manufacturers urged the government to relax the customs and bank guarantee rules, extend cash incentive and promptly establish a Plastic Industrial Park to boost export earnings by adding more plastic products in the export basket.
Presently, local manufacturers are exporting plastic hangers, polybags and shopping bags. Export earnings from plastic products registered Tk 1,636.76 crore in fiscal 2006-07, according to the sectoral trade body.
“Many other products, such as plastic toys and crockery, can be added in the export basket,” said Ferdous Wahed, the association president.
“It will be possible to earn up to $1 billion a year from exports, if the government extends policy support,” he added.
Earlier, plastic manufacturers singed an agreement with Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (Bscic) on establishing an Industrial park at Keraniganj, Dhaka.
Barua said his ministry will take steps to implement the establishment of the proposed prk.