Home ›› 29 Jul 2021 ›› Nation
Export-oriented businesses in Bogura have witnessed a record boom in profit in the last two years as the traders have drawn a profit of Tk 1052 crore in total.
According to traders, they have earned a total of Tk 445.21 crore by exporting various goods, including machinery and agricultural items, produced in the district in 2020, while the amount was Tk 607.57 crore in 2019.
Among the products being exported from the district include irrigation pumps, rice bran oil, jute yarn, jute bags, sacks and rice threshing machines.
The prime destinations for the products are India and Malaysia. Besides, the traders export synthetic hair goods to the United States, jute caddis to Russia, vegetable seeds and cabbage to Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan.
According to exporters, potatoes and sweet pumpkin produced in Bogura have been exported for more than a decade. Taro corn, net cap and calabash are latest additions to the export items.
Most of these agricultural products are exported by Mashwa Group, an exporter of Bogura.
Arif Azat Prince, owner of the exporting company, said they took the initiative to export locally produced vegetables as farmers do not get fair prices for their produces in the country. The global demand for the products is good, he added.
Shibganj Upazila Agriculture Officer Al Mujahid Sarkar said about 5,000 metric tonnes of potatoes, alongside a good quantity of vegetables, have been exported from Bogura this season.
Besides, various handicraft products made by rural women of Sherpur and Kahalu upazilas are being exported to various European countries, including Germany, Sweden, France, Netherlands, England, Italy, Norway, and Australia.
Apart from Mashwa group, another organization - Shova Advanced Technology Limited – exports digital scales abroad. They have many foreign orders but failing to deliver due to the odds inflicted by the ongoing pandemic.
The consolidated demand of irrigation pump across the country is around 1.5 lakh. Bogura has been famous for its contribution to meeting the domestic demand, in addition to exporting.
Exporters say that thousands of foundry factories have been set up in different parts of Bogura and are manufacturing irrigation pumps, extending employment opportunities to more than two lakh people.
The traders import the raw materials, except old iron, for irrigation pumps come from China and
Malaysia. To facilitate sales of machinery and commonly used raw materials, a large market has been set up at Gohail and Station Road of Bogura district town.
It was learnt that the journey of Bogura products to foreign markets started in the year 2000 through irrigation pumps. However, these products are not enlisted by the Bogura Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Now, some exporters have taken certificate of origin from the BCCI and started exporting goods abroad. Also, many are exporting products with certificates different trade bodies in Dhaka, Chittagong and Narayanganj.
According to the BCCI, some traders with BCCI certificates have exported goods worth over $7 crore to India and other countries in 2019.
But, the amount has decreased to $5 crore this year due to the pandemic restrictions.
Among the exported items, rice bran oil is on the top place.
Majumdar Products from Sherpur has exported the highest quantity of rice bran oil last year worth $1.76 crore.
Chitta Majumder, managing director of Majumdar Products, said they have been exporting rice bran oil to India for the last eight years.
He mentioned that the item’s demand is on the rise in Japan, but they are yet to start export to the country due to some additional complexities. The demand for rice bran oil in India has also multiplied, he added.
Tamim Agro Industries, the second highest oil exporter, has earned $1.11 crore by exporting rice bran oil to India.
Shahjahan Ali, managing director of the company, said that the traders are suffering from acute scarcity in raw materials (rice husks) for producing rice bran oil.
He also noted the growing overseas demand, saying, “Thanks to the good quality of the oil we produce, it is in great demand in India and Japan. New markets could be created in Australia too.”
When it comes to jute products, India has emerged as a big market for jute yarn, twine and bags produced in Bogura.
These products are exported through various exporters, including Hasan Jute Mills, Bogra Jute Mills Limited, Ma Traders.
Matiur Rahman, proprietor of Ma Traders, said many foreign orders have long been awaiting delivery due to Covid-19 pandemic. On the other hand, the production has been difficult due to the high price of jute in the country.”
He revealed that they have an order from India for 10 lakh jute bags. Turkey is also among the buyers.
Md Abudl Matin, managing director of Rony Engineering Workshop in Bogura, said that the industry would see a boost if the businesses get loan at low interest.
Abdul Wahid, owner of AR Enterprise, said the earning of traders in Bogura from vegetable exports stood at $1.60 thousand in the previous year. The amount will increase soon as initiatives have been taken to send vegetables and seeds to more countries, including Italy and the United States.
Mahfuzul Islam Raj, vice-president of the Bogura Chamber of Commerce and Industry, described Bogura as a land of immense potentials.
