New avenue emerges to boost plastic-ware export

When the country’s major export earning sectors are showing downward trend owing to the impact of the current global financial crisis, plastic sector shows a significant export potential.
The sector sets on the 12th row of the country’s export earners’ listing with an earning of Tk 1,200 crore annually, is going to get a boost as two global superstores are eyeing Bangladesh market for importing plastic products.
Paris-based Carrefour, world’s second largest supermarket chain after Wal-Mart, has started negotiation with Bangladesh’s top plastic goods manufacturer, Bengal Group, to source plastic house wares.
And IKEA, the Stockholm-based global home furnishing leader, has also showed its intention to source house wares of easily shippable plastic goods from several Bangladeshi manufacturers.
‘We are in negotiation with the Carrefour on bulk sourcing of house wares,’ admitted Bengal Group vice-chairman Jashim Uddin while talking to New Age on Thursday.
Bengal Group, the licensee of the A&E, world’s number one US brand for apparel hangers, also serves the local export-oriented garment manufacturers.
After developing its base on manufacturing plastic accessories, Bengal, few years ago started manufacturing plastic furniture for domestic market under the brand name Bengal Wares. Some consignments of furniture had also been exported to Canada, UK and India.
Bengal has recently started production of house wares including baskets, buckets and treys – eying the growing local market.
`Several billion dollars worth plastic goods export is possible if the government supports the industry to feed required demands in foreign market,’ said Jashim, also the president of the Bangladesh Plastic Goods Manufacturers and Exporters Association.
He cited that China’s earning by exporting plastics goods including toys and house wares is not much less than her export earning from textiles or garments sectors.
He points out that the Chinese manufacturers have lost their competitive edge in many ways in recent times so there is a huge scope for Bangladesh to grab significant share in global plastic goods market.
Many global superstore chains including Wal-Mart, TESCO import apparels from Bangladesh and they would procure plastic goods too if dependable capacity on souring is developed here.
The BGGMEA a couple of weeks ago submitted a detailed proposal to the commerce ministry to take some policy measures in the upcoming export policy. The suggestions include allowing duty-free import of raw materials for plastic industry, establishing plastic testing laboratory, accelerating the implementation of proposed plastic industry estate and easing duty draw back procedures for small exporters.

Courtesy of NewAgebd