Plastic makers get Tk 20cr in export orders

A four-day fair of plastics goods and machinery ended in Dhaka yesterday with local manufacturers receiving around Tk 20 crore in export orders, down from about Tk 25 crore last year, fair organisers said yesterday.
The decline in the spot orders was due to comparatively lower participation of foreign buyers and local manufacturers discouraged by the political turmoil in the past few months, organisers said. Local firms at the fair also gave spot orders of around Tk 50 crore for machinery import from foreign firms, they said.
There were some 350 stalls in the annual event, where participants from 15 countries including China, India, Taiwan, Korea and Malaysia, showcased their wares.
Bangladesh Plastic Goods Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BPGMEA) in association with Chan Chao International Co Ltd, an industrial exhibition arranger, organised the fair styled 9th International Plastic Fair - IPF 2014.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the exhibition, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed said garment exports from Bangladesh will reach $30 billion by 2015 and $50 billion by 2021 with diversification of products and markets. “We have already decided for product and market diversification in the sixth five-year plan,” he said, adding that Bangladesh will get back the GSP facilities from the US if politics does not play any part in the decision-making.
We will fulfill all the conditions set by the US by March and submit a report by April 15, to reinstate GSP, he said.
BPGMEA President Jashim Uddin urged the government to provide cash incentive facility to the plastic industry, as the exporters are not getting trade privileges after suspension of the GSP to the US market.
“When we get back the GSP facilities, the exporters will not need the cash incentive facility,” he said.
“We are also requesting the government to help us setting up an institute of plastic engineering and technology to create skilled manpower and human resource for the industry,” said Jashim Uddin, also vice-chairman of Bengal Group of Industries.