Ceramics export to touch $1bn mark soon: Commerce minister

Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi has said that ceramics is one of the promising industries in Bangladesh and expressed his optimism that the export of ceramic products will exceed one billion dollars anytime soon.

There is a huge demand for Bangladeshi ceramics products around the world and it is being exported to 50 countries at present, Munshi said while inaugurating the ceramics expo at the International Convention City Bashundhara in Dhaka, on Thursday.

Bangladesh Ceramics Manufacturers and Exporters’ Association (BCMA) organised the three-day-long event that began on Thursday to garner buyers’ attention from home and abroad.

Claiming that the ceramic industry has achieved remarkable progress in Bangladesh in a very short period, Munshi said once people used to import ceramics products from abroad to meet their demand but now the industry is meeting the country's 85 percent of the total demand.

The current production growth in this sector is around 200 percent, said the commerce minister.

The country is fetching around Tk 500 crore a year, said the commerce minister adding that his government is extending all assistance to the manufacturers and exporters to boost ceramics shipment.

He said there are 70 ceramics plants in the country and around five lakh people are beneficiaries although the sector is facing a setback due to the ongoing gas crisis.

The situation will improve gradually and it is expected that it will return to normal in January, said the minister.

“We will hold talks with traders to boost exports and remove obstacles in the sector. We will also take steps to resolve problems, soon,” he said.

120 business institutions from 20 countries took part in the expo with 15 types of brands. The fair will remain open for visitors from 10 am to 7 pm till closing on November 26.