Policy support sought for printing sector

Given the high potential sector and demand in the global market the printing industry owners on Wednesday sought policy support from the government to boost export.

The sector is now being considered as a service sector. If the government declares it as industry and provide proper facility, the printing sector will be able to earn billions of dollars foreign currency through direct export.

The demands were placed at a press conference on Wednesday in the capital to announce the ‘2nd Edition of PRINTECH Bangladesh 2022 and 3P Bangladesh International Trade Show’ to be jointly organized by ASK trade and Exhibition and Printing Industries Association of Bangladesh (PIAB).

The exhibition starts from today (Thursday) and will continue till 10 September at the International Convention City Bashundhara where 100 local and foreign companies are going to participate.

The organizers claimed that about 7,000 small and cottage printing entrepreneurs are operating throughout the country out of which almost 2000 printing houses can be considered modern and updated in technology.

Around Tk30, 000 crore has been invested in this sector and the annual market size is over Tk4, 000 crore where Tk160 crore is export-oriented. Moreover about three lakh people are engaged in this sector.

Shahid Serneabat, Chairman of PIAB, said now Bangladesh is able to supply all kinds of printing solutions.

“We have almost recovered from the Covid-19 impact and now it is the time to adopt technology to gain world market. This is why we need policy support.”

The government wants to diversify export basket and the sector has capacity to do it. “If we are able to work collectively, a big chunk of global market can be captured,” he said.

The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry Acting President Amin Helali said, “The printing sector is contributing 6 percent from its total export and 9 percent from readymade garment. But the sector is yet to be declared as industry.”

The FBCCI is working for this sector and the federation will submit a proposal to the government to form a policy support for the sector.

Tipu Sultan Bhuiyan, Managing Director of ASK Trade and Exhibitions, told the press conference that the exhibition would be very useful for visitors to witness new innovations in printing, plastic, packaging and paper.