The National Export Trophy was awarded to 71 exporting
companies of the country on November 22, 2022, in recognition of outstanding
contribution to the country's foreign trade through higher sales, new product
and market additions, and maintaining compliance during the financial year
2018-19.
At the Bangabandhu Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition
Center in Purbachal, the Ministry of Commerce and its agency Export Promotion
Bureau (EPB) jointly presented their awards.
Out of the winning companies representing 29 sectors, 29 won
trophies in the Gold categories, 24 in Silver, and 18 in the Bronze categories.
Among all the exporters, Rifat Garments Limited, a company
of Ha-Meem Group, was crowned with the "Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Export
Trophy" for fetching $250 million in receipts and showing stellar
performances in other indicators. Its shipment growth stood at 18.95 percent,
year-on-year.
Universal Jeans, Badsha Textiles, Zaber & Zubair
Fabrics, GMS Composite Knitting, Envoy Textiles, and Square Textiles were also
among the gold trophy winners.
Other winners include Akij Jute Mills, Pran Dairy, Bay
Footwear, Noman Terry Towel Mills, Energypac Engineering, Bengal Plastics,
Jalalabad Frozen Foods, Mir Telecom, Beximco Pharmaceuticals, Tasnim Chemicals
Complex, Uniglory Cycle Component, Picard Bangladesh, Apex Tannery, and Karupanya
Rangpur.
"Exporters are playing an important role in the
economic development of the country by way of investing and creating
jobs," said Commerce Minister Mr.
Tipu Munshi while addressing the event.
He said the government has taken various steps to overcome
the current economic crisis.
"You [businessmen] are struggling. But there is no way
to be left behind. We must move forward."
He said the government was relentlessly working to make the
country economically strong and establish a dignified position in the world
market.
After 2026, duty-free market access for Bangladesh as a
least-developed country will not exist, according to the minister. "But
opportunities never cease to exist. It is only necessary to find them and work
together," he said.
At the event, businesspeople called for developing a skilled workforce, boosting research and innovation, and adding new products in order to enhance the country's competitiveness.
Mr. Md. Jashim Uddin, president of the Federation of
Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry, suggested improving the skills of
workers to attain further economic progress.
"There is a need to create skilled workers and gain
skills in business management."
Mr. Md. Jashim Uddin said special attention should be given
to the manufacturing and agriculture sectors for economic stability.
"Unnecessary expenditures and the import of luxury
goods should be reduced."
After the country's graduation to a developing nation, the
export sector, which is one of the largest job providers in the country,
Bangladesh would face competition in terms of price and quality, according to
the FBCCI chief.
"The backward linkage industry should be established to
enhance value-addition," he said.
Mr. AK Azad, chairman, and chief executive officer of Ha-Meem
Group, one of the largest garment exporters in Bangladesh, said due to the
Russia-Ukraine war, there has been a slowdown in business.
"The main market of Bangladesh is Europe where 71 percent of consumers have cut their budgets. Under the circumstances, they have
cut imports. If the current trend persists, the risk for a sharp decline in
exports would deepen."
The negotiation power of local suppliers has lessened
because of lower sales, the US dollar crunch, and the energy crisis said the
entrepreneur.
"Whatever orders are available are being
accepted."
Mr. AHM Ahsan, the vice-chairman of the EPB, said: "We are
delighted for the success of businesspeople. The government is working to
expand the market by identifying the problems in the field of exports and
solving them."
Mr. Tapan Kanti Ghosh, Senior Secretary, of the Ministry of
Commerce, said that the award was given to encourage exporters to ship more
goods and services.
Source:
Online/KSU
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