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Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi has said that there is no alternative but to create skilled manpower in the country for the development of the furniture industry.
"It is possible to earn a huge foreign currency by exporting furniture made by trained manpower," he said while speaking at the inaugural ceremony of 18th National Furniture Fair 2023 on Tuesday.
Bangladesh Furniture Industry Owners Association has organised the five-day fair at the International Convention City Bashundhara in the capital.
While speaking as the chief guest, the commerce minister also said, “Our furniture industry is booming day by day despite a lack of skilled workers. This industry has gone through a dramatic change in the last 10-12 years. This industry can meet the demand of the country and export furniture to foreign countries.”
“The industry has not been expanded as expected due to imports of some raw materials. If employment can be increased by imparting training to the workers, present production can be double,” he added.
The quality, design and modern shape of the country's furniture will surely draw the attention of any country in the world and thus, they would be interested in purchasing the furniture, he said.
In this context, he said that the ready-made garment industry sector has not reached the current position in a single day.
The minister said that furniture worth $110 to $120 million is being exported abroad annually while the volume of furniture exports would play a significant role in the country's overall export earnings in the coming days based on the revolutionary changes brought in this sector over the last one era.
The commerce minister expressed the hope that it is possible to earn a lot of foreign exchange through exports if sustainable furniture industry is developed side by side it is also possible to double the number of workers involved in this industry.
Tipu also urged the entrepreneurs to come forward to produce those materials, which have to be imported in the country, for crafting furniture.
Assuring that the government would provide all kinds of assistance to identify and remove the barriers in the field of export, he said that several companies involved in the furniture industry are taking initiatives to become cent per cent export-oriented, which is really commendable.
Saying that this sector has a lot of potential, he called upon the stakeholders to invest more in this sector.
A total of 185 stalls have been set up at the fair venue. A total of 30 companies, including Hatil, Akhtar, Omega Furniture, Navana, Pertex, Regal, Nadia, and Brothers, are taking part in the fair which will continue until October 21.
Presided over by Chairman of Bangladesh Furniture Industry Owners Association Selim H Rahman, the programme was also addressed by Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) vice chairman and CEO AHM Ahsan, Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) president Mahbubul Alam, Bangladesh Furniture Exporters Association President KM Aktaruzzaman.
