President for ensuring quality products with diversification

President M Abdul Hamid Thursday asked industrial entrepreneurs, businessmen and others concerned to ensure the quality of domestic products and bring diversification of production.

“At the time of the ‘Fourth Industrial Revolution’ with increasing the use of new technologies worldwide, domestic industrial products are facing tough competition in the international market . . . So, we must ensure quality products simultaneously bring diversification in production,” he said in a recorded video speech.

Speaking on the occasion of the “President’s Industrial Development Award-2019” at Osmani Memorial Auditorium, the President asked the industrial entrepreneurs to take necessary steps to ensure the workers’ welfare.

He said entrepreneurs need to come forward to invest through innovative thoughts as well as with using the latest technologies in a proper manner.

“Multifaceted ideas need to be applied in industrial production to keep pace with local and international business trends without depending on any particular product or service sector,” Abdul Hamid suggested.

Stressing on taking care of the environment along with industrialization, the President said, “Workers’ hard effort and efficiency are essential to increase productivity . . . For this, the owner-worker friendly relationship is very crucial.”

Referring to domestic and overseas investments here, he said employment is very important for development but it is not possible for the government alone to provide employment to this huge population.

“Domestic and foreign investments are mandatory to create huge employment opportunities,” the President observed.

Mentioning the incumbent government’s various development plans, he said, “The government is working to create 100 economic zones for domestic and foreign investors. It is aimed to create employment opportunities for 10 million people, simultaneously an additional $ 40 billion export earnings target.”

A large portion of these economic zones are being allocated among private entrepreneurs, he said, adding, if the industry is set up in the economic zones, the domestic and foreign investors would be able to equally enjoy various incentives payable, including tax rebates.

Terming Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as a worthy successor of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the President said the present government has taken various initiatives to expand industrialization, trade and investment in Bangladesh in the last decade.

“The trend of industrialization of Bangladesh is moving forward in the light of Bangabandhu’s economic philosophy,” the head of the state added.

Abdul Hamid said Bangladesh has now become one of the most attractive investment destinations in South Asia due to the prevailing various entrepreneur-friendly environments and creative programs have undertaken by the government.

The government undertook pragmatic steps in this regard, including development of communication infrastructure, increase in productivity in industry, diversification of export products, determination of investment-friendly tax and tariff structure and special incentives for foreign direct investment.

The President congratulated the 19 award recipients -- esteemed industrial establishments and industrialists under six categories -- for their outstanding contribution to the national economy.

“This initiative would further consolidate the ongoing trend of knowledge-based industrialization and make a positive contribution to the overall national economic progress in days to come,” he hoped.

Planning Minister MA Mannan, Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun and State Minister for Industries Kamal Ahmed Majumder also spoke with Industries Ministry Secretary Zakia Sultana in the chair.

19 enterprises receive awards

Nineteen industrial enterprises have received the ‘President’s Award for Industrial Development-2019’ for their outstanding contributions towards Bangladesh’s economic growth.

An award-giving ceremony was held at the capital’s Osmani Memorial Auditorium on Thursday with President Abdul Hamid as the chief guest while Industries secretary Zakia Sultana presided over the function.

President Abdul Hamid addressed the event via a pre-recorded video and congratulated the recipients.

Planning minister MA Mannan, Industries minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun, and state minister for Industries Kamal Ahmed Majumder handed over the awards, divided in six categories, to the representatives of the 19 companies.

BRB Cable Industries Ltd and British American Tobacco Bangladesh Company jointly secured first place in the large industries category while Mir Ceramic Ltd and Jaber & Jobayer Fabrics Ltd stood second and third respectively.

In the medium industry category, the winners are: Bengal Polymer Wares Ltd, Noman Terry Towel Mills Ltd, and Crimson Rosella Sea Jude Ltd stood third jointly.

Promi Agro Foods Ltd, Madhobdi Dyeing Finishing Mills Ltd, and APS Holding Ltd were announced first, second and third in the small industry category.

Among the micro industries, Moscow Dairy Enterprise became first, Khan Bakelite Products second, and Raven Agro Chemicals third.

Under the hi-tech industry category, Walton Hi-Tech Industries Ling came first, Information Technology Consultants Ltd came second, and Summit Communications Ltd came third.

The Ministry of Industries had to postpone the event last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

To encourage entrepreneurship and creativity in the private sector, the “Guidelines for Awarding the President’s Industrial Development Award 2013” was formed in 2013.

Then in 2015, for the first time, the best 12 industrial entrepreneurs were awarded the “President’s Award for Industrial Development.” Following the trend, the ministry of industries presented the 2019 award for the fifth time.

Addressing the award-giving ceremony, Planning minister MA Mannan said, “Though different countries such as USA and New Zealand are now putting more focus on their agriculture sector, Bangladesh has long been carrying the glorious history of agriculture as it is the backbone of our economy.”

However, we are also simultaneously going for gradual industrialisation but our agriculture should be always in our mind for the sake of our future generation. That’s why, both the industries and agriculture should be flourished simultaneously,” he further explained.

The minister has also urged all the entrepreneurs to ensure a safe environment in the workplaces as well as workers’ rights. 

Industries minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun recalled that Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman undertook a good number of initiatives to boost the industries for the sake of the country’s development.

“You, the award recipients, are crucial for our economic development as Bangladesh’s GDP is now the highest among all the South Asian nations, thanks to the industrial sectors. Our per-capita income as well as foreign reserves are also going up gradually,” he further added.

State minister for Industries Kamal Ahmed Majumder said that the incumbent government always extends its support to the private sector for the sake of driving the wheel of the country’s economy through creating new jobs as well as new products.

 “The government has provided incentives to various private sectors to overcome covid-19 fallout. The Ministry of Industries will continue to help you all in future,” he added.

Managing director of BRB Cable Ltd Parvez Rahman said, “All our credit goes to all the employees and we thank the authority concerned to confer such an award to our company. We are really proud to be a partner in the country’s economic development.”

Managing director and chief executive officer of Walton Hi-Tech Industries Golam Murshed noted that Bangladesh’s development is now totally visible. “Sustainable Development Goal-9 is “Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure.”

We have employed 30,000 people with a hope to export goods worth one billion dollars from this sector by 2025. We can achieve SDGs by 2030 and attain a developed country’s status by 2041,” he further added.