Commerce minister Tofail Ahmed on Sunday said that the government would take an initiative to provide cash incentive for the furniture exporters to encourage the entrepreneurs in the sector. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of three-day Bangladesh Furniture and Interior Decor Expo-2014 at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the city, the minister said that the furniture exporters deserve cash incentives against export as the sector creates new markets and employments.
‘I will take necessary steps so that the government provides cash incentive to the furniture exporters like readymade garment sector gets as we don’t want to remain concentrated on selected export items,’ Tofail said.
Expressing hope to achieve the goal to be a developed country by 2041, he said development of Bangladesh is going on and no impediment could hamper the export business of the country.
After the RMG sector, labour intensive furniture sector could play an important role to increase export earnings as well as create employment opportunities, the commerce minister said.
Tofail said that both product diversification and market diversification are the top priorities of the government and his ministry would extend all out support to promote furniture industry.
Export Promotion Bureau, Bangladesh Furniture Exporters Association, Bangladesh Handicrafts Manufacturers and Exporters Association, Bangladesh Jute Diversified Products Manufactures and Exporters Association, Bangladesh Furniture Industries Owners Association and Jute Diversification Promotion Centre jointly organised the fair.
Commerce secretary Mahbub Ahmed said the government should promote the furniture sector as the sector is creating diversified market and products.
He said that the furniture sector is moving forward in line with the sixth five year plan of the government.
The sector deserves logistic support from the government as it creates job for a large number of poor people, earns foreign currency and produces diversified products, Mahbub said.
The EPB vice-chairman Shubhashish Bose urged the government to set up an training institute with the department of carpentry to produce skilled workforce for the furniture sector.
‘We will surpass our neighboring countries with in a few years in exporting furniture as we have got tradition, quality and design and Bangladesh is
now able to produce world class furniture,’ he said.
A total of 51 local manufacturers and exporters of wood, board, plastic, metal and cane-based furniture, jute and craft-based home furnishing products and specialised textiles are taking part in the fair to display their products.
According to the EPB data, export earnings from furniture amounted to US$ 31.41 million in the financial year 2012-13.
Export earnings in eight months of the current financial year fetched US$ 25.42 million with a 32 per cent rise against US$ 19.20 million in the same period last fiscal year.
-With New Age input
