Shipbuilding shows signs of pick-up

http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=125205

Shipbuilding shows signs of pick-up

A vessel built by Western Marine Shipyard in Chittagong is up for delivery. Photo: Western Marine

Sohel Parvez

Two local firms gear up to resume the construction of shipyards expecting foreign orders for vessels, as demand has showed signs of a pick-up with recovery from the global recession.

Khan Brothers Shipbuilding Ltd and Narayanganj Shilpbuilders Ltd stalled work to establish shipyards after the global financial crisis depressed global demand for new ships.

“We have already started construction. We had slowed work mainly to bypass fallout from the recession,” said Tofayel Kabir Khan, managing director of Khan Brothers Shipbuilding Ltd, a concern of Khan Brothers Group.

He also blamed the suspension of construction partly on difficulty in obtaining bank loans. The shipyard is being built on the bank of Meghna at Gazaria, Munshiganj, at an estimated cost of Tk 100 crore.

“The deadlock in receiving loans appears to be easing as some banks are coming out and extending loans to shipbuilding. Now we hope to get a loan to establish the shipyard by year-end.”

Khan Brothers, which plans to develop the shipyard on about 50 acres, began building shipyards to build vessels in early 2008, inspired by global demand for vessels at around 10,000 units by 2012.

Small and medium vessels account for about 55 percent of the projected 10,000 ships, insiders said.

According to shipyard operators, Bangladeshi shipyards can tap global demand with small and medium-sized ships, as traditional shipbuilding nations, such as China and Korea, focus on large ships.

With a long maritime history and a favourable geographical location, Bangladesh enjoys various advantages, such as cheap labour, a presence of nearly 100,000 skilled and semiskilled workers and industry-related educational and training institutes.

Two leading local shipmakers — Ananda Shipyard and Slipways Ltd and Western Marine Shipyard Ltd — have bagged orders to make over 40 small vessels of about $600 million, mainly from European buyers.

“We are going to be the third shipyard capable of making global standard vessels for foreign buyers by the end of the year,” said Khan.

Khan Brothers expects to develop its capacity to deliver four ships a year.

Ferdousar Rahman, senior general manager of Khan Brothers, said the shipyard would have the capacity to make vessels up to 15,000 DWT (dead weight tonnage).

“But we will be able to make ships between 3,000-10,000 DWT as well,” said Rahman, also a naval architect from BUET.

Shah Abdul Latif, managing director of Narayanganj Shipbuilders Ltd, said the company had been quiet during the financial crisis.

“It appears that fallout from the recession on the global shipbuilding market is easing. Now we can resume work,” he said. “We will seek bank loans soon to complete the project.”

The official of Narayanganj Shipbuilders, which plans to set up the shipyard off the Meghna River near Gazaria, Munishiganj, said the company is receiving queries from oversees.

“We are optimistic about beginning civil construction from next month.”

Sakhawat Hossain, managing director of Western Marine Shipyard Ltd, also said the company is on an expansion mode to take advantage of recovery in global demand for new ships.

“The market has started picking up. We expect a rise in orders for new vessels by the end of this year.”

sohel@thedailystar.net

Software, ITES export rises by 32pc in 2009

http://www.newagebd.com/2010/feb/07/busi.html#2

Software, ITES export rises by 32pc in 2009
Five-day SoftExpo in city from Feb 10
Staff Correspondent

The export volume of software and information technology-enabled services increased by 32.17 per cent last year with a sale worth some $ 32.91 million in 2008-09, while the industry has fixed a target for $ 38 million in 2009-10 fiscal.

‘Bangladesh earned $ 24.9 million from export of software and ITES in 2007-08 fiscal and $ 32.91 million in the last fiscal year, $ 5.91 million more than the previous year. Software and ITES export was worth a paltry $ 1.2 million in 2001,’ BASIS president Habibullah N Karim told a press conference at a city hotel announcing the schedule for annual software exhibition.

Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services, the lone organisation to promote the country’s software industry, is organising the five-day software exposition titled SoftExpo-2010.

The exhibition will be kicked off on Wednesday at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the city’s Agargaon with the theme ‘Digital Bangladesh in Action.’

Habibullah N Karim said the volume of software and ITES would increase up to 40 per cent during the current financial year.

The BASIS president said the ICT event is expected to put up a large display of software and IT-enabled services.

Currently, Bangladesh has more than 20,000 IT professionals engaged with over 500 software and ITES companies.

SoftExpo-2010 is envisaged to create a platform for showcasing the untold potentials of the industry by synchronizing all sorts of software resources and skills available in Bangladesh, the press conference was told.

REVE Systems chief executive officer Rezaul Hasan said the fair would present the country’s ICT market potentials to local and international players, service providers, investors, development agencies, policymakers and associations.

‘The event will create a wide scope for interaction among software providers, buyers, IT users, professionals, media, policy makers, development partners, students and the society people,’ he said.

Hasan called upon the media people to highlight the country’s ICT market potentials to local and international investors for attracting investment to the sector.

About 150 local and international firms, including some from countries like Japan, Denmark, UK and the USA, are expected to participate in the exposition, creating scope for establishing contacts among themselves.

The entry fee of the exhibition has been fixed Tk 20 while it will be free for the students.

The fair will remain open for public from 10a to 8pm till February 14.

BB approves Tk 2.0b re-financing scheme for shipbuilders

http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/more.php?news_id=91778

BB approves Tk 2.0b re-financing scheme for shipbuilders
FE Report

The central bank is going to launch a re-financing scheme worth Tk 2.0 billion for the country’s growing shipbuilding industry, officials said Saturday.

A proposal to this effect was approved at a meeting of the board of directors of the Bangladesh Bank (BB), held at its Sylhet office Saturday with BB Governor Atiur Rahman in the chair.

“The board of directors has given approval to launch such a re-financing scheme to facilitate the export-oriented shipbuilding industry,” a BB senior official told the FE on phone from Sylhet after the meeting.

The central bank will issue a circular in this connection shortly, the BB official said adding that the shipbuilders would be able to receive loans from the commercial banks at 10 per cent interest under the scheme.

On the other hand, the local commercial banks will be able to charge a fee of not more than 1.5 per cent annually for issuing any guarantee against receipt of fund from a foreign ship importer.

On January 18, the central bank issued a circular, asking the chief executives and managing directors of all commercial banks to follow the directive properly.

“We’ve taken the initiative to promote the country’s growing shipbuilding industry,” another BB official told the FE earlier, adding that the shipbuilders would benefit from the latest measure.

A master circular on schedule of charges, issued by the BB on December 22, applies to opening of letters of credit (LCs) in the industry.

The charges for side LCs, deferred LCs, 100 per cent cash margin LCs and back-to-back LCs will be 0.40 per cent, 0.50 per cent, 0.25 per cent and 0.40 per cent respectively on a quarterly basis, according to the circular.

The banks will not charge more than 2.0 per cent as commission annually for opening LCs, the BB said.

Software expo kicks off Wednesday

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Software expo kicks off Wednesday
Star Business Report

The country’s biggest software and information technology exposition will start at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in Dhaka on February 10.

Habibullah N Karim, president of Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS), announced the five-day SOFTEXPO-2010 at a press conference at Dhaka Sheraton Hotel yesterday.

In association with the Ministry of Science and Information & Communication Technology, BASIS will organise the event with the theme ‘Digital Bangladesh in Action’.

“Around 150 local and international companies are expected to participate in the fair, and we expect two lakh visitors this year,” said Karim.

“We hope SOFTEXPO will be an internationally recognised regional event in three years.”

More than 20 seminars and workshops will be arranged as part of the event scheduled to be inaugurated by AMA Muhith, finance minister.

The fair will have six specialised zones, including outsourcing, business, multimedia and animation to cater to customers.

“The event will create wide scope for interaction among software providers, buyers, IT users, professionals, media, policymakers, development partners and students,” said Mubin Khan, director of BASIS.

Banglalion will let visitors browse the internet for free under a hi-speed WiFi zone.

A Towhid, chairman of National Events Committee, was also present.

Students can enter the fair for free from 10am to 5pm while the regular entry fee will be Tk 20.

Economy on track to grow by 6pc

http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/more.php?news_id=91588

Economy on track to grow by 6pc
Some downside risks must be averted, says MCCI Q2 review

FE Report

The Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce & Industry (MCCI) has said the Bangladesh economy is on track to grow by 6.0 per cent in fiscal year (FY), 2009-10 as it is moving toward a more broad-based path.

But it has reminded all concerned of downsides, cautioning inflation, after falling, has started climbing again, while foreign investments are shrinking.

“The real sector production increased, and performance in the areas of public finance, credit delivery, remittance inflow and exports was better,” the MCCI said in its quarterly economic review.

“The driving forces behind good economic performance were a favourable climate, strong domestic demand spurred by remittance inflows, the pick up in the government’s Annual Development Programme (ADP) implementation rate, and, not the least, the central bank’s proactive monetary policy pursued since April 2009,” it said.

The review noted that agriculture sector performance during October- December period–or the second quarter of FY10-was better than in the immediate past quarter, with output expanding in rice, vegetables, livestock and fishery.

With Aman rice production exceeding the target and boro showing bright prospects, the review said the overall food production target is expected to be achieved, barring unforeseen crop failures.

Like the farm sector, the chamber review said, all industrial sub-sectors that suffered declines in FY09 began to recover with the advent of the second quarter of FY10.

The manufacturing sector picked up following strong growth of domestic demand and the turnaround of exports.

The construction sub-sector grew strongly as is evident form the spread of activities in residential and commercial building construction by developers.

The review provided optimism that services sector in the quarter two (Q2) depicted good growth, supported by increasing activity in agriculture and manufacturing sectors, and export trade.

“Better performance was visible in such sub-sectors as education and health, transport, wholesale and retail trade, real estate business, and financial and capital markets,” according to the review.

Referring to the revenue collection efforts by the National Board of Revenue (NBR), the chamber said it improved greatly in October-December, 2009 when government revenue increased by 25.2 per cent to which a rise in both VAT receipts and income taxes contributed.

In the area of public spending, both current and capital expenditures increased significantly in the quarter under review. The increase in public spending was the result, partly of an expeditious disbursement of funds for ADP projects and partly the implementation of the new pay scale in the period.

On the external front, exports came out of the negative growth phase of the past two quarters and recorded a 2.62 per cent expansion in October-November FY10.

With the recovery of major economies from recession, the chamber predicted that it would not be “unrealistic to expect a double digit growth of exports in the coming months.”

Imports also picked up in October-December, although import growth in Q 1 bottomed out with a decline by 19.9 per cent, the negative growth rate came down to a nominal 1.5 per cent in Q2.

With restoration of business confidence and pick up of investment, the chamber is hopeful about an uptick in import growth in the coming months.

“Already, imports of machinery and equipment, industrial raw materials, and consumer goods have edged up and are likely to increase further,” the review said.

The flow of remittances in Q2 stood at over US$2.8 billion, compared to US$2.1 billion in the corresponding quarter of FY09–a 30.6 per cent year-to-year (y-o-y) increase.

Remittances in the immediate past quarter, i.e., Q1 FY09, stood at US$2.7 billion and the MCCI analysis said the growth of remittance from Q1 to Q2 of the present fiscal was thus only 4.5 per cent.

The current account balance shifted from a surplus in the previous quarter to a deficit in the quarter under review. The FDI inflows continued to decline, maintaining the trend that began in the July-September quarter.

According to the chamber, the price pressure increased in Q2, primarily as a consequence of increased domestic demand and higher commodity prices in the international markets.

Average inflation rate fell slightly to 5.11 per cent in October 2009 from 5.15 per cent in September 2009, but on point-to-point basis, the rate of inflation increased to 6.71 per cent in October 2009 from 4.60 percent in the previous quarter, the MCCI said.

It said food inflation increased to 7.78 per cent in October 2009 from 4.98 per cent in September, while non-food inflation recorded a smaller increase to 5.07 per cent, from 4.28 per cent in September 2009.

“The price pressure emerged from higher domestic demand and rising commodity prices in the international markets combined with the tapering off of the government’s cost-of-living reduction measures since July 2009,” the chamber said in its analysis.

Nevertheless, it added, the average inflation in October 2009 declined for the higher base effect from the corresponding period of the previous year.

In the quarter under review, the inflation rate in the rural areas was lower than that in the urban areas.

Despite the drop in manpower exports, remittance growth has remained steady, and the foreign exchange reserves have continued to increase.

” … Some downside risks, which must be averted if the country is to achieve the targeted GDP growth of 6.0 per cent or more in the current fiscal,” the MCCI said in its sum up.

“It’s worrisome that the inflation rate, after falling, has started rising again,” it said, adding FDI inflows in the first half of the fiscal are about a half of the flows that took place in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal.

The country’s leading chamber body said the condition of physical infrastructure remains weak, which together with the crisis in power and gas sectors, acts as “disincentives to industrial investors.”

It, however, noted with disconcert that there has been no progress toward implementation of the much-talked-about public-private-partnership (PPP) projects for infrastructure development.

“Corruption, weak governance, and poor law and order conditions continue to be serious problems that discourage investment and business activity,” the MCCI review said. “All out efforts need to be taken to tackle these problems.”

The chamber urged the government to improve the investment environment by adopting consistent fiscal-monetary and commercial-exchange rate policies and energise the export sector.

Other areas that needed special attention, the chamber said, include fair price to farmers for their produce, further improvement of the collection of NBR and non-NBR revenues, creation of employment opportunities at home and abroad and specific measures to tackle the adverse impact of climate change.

It also called upon the policymakers to instill impetus into the public administration and further improve the development projects and protect public expenditure on social sectors.

The MCCI said the government’s stimulus package should be continued until the affected sectors are able to stand on a sound base.

The government has already announced nearly Tk 45 billion stimulus in two phases to help export sectors ride out the storm of the global recession, worst in generations.

Solar power in char areas ushers in era of dev

http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2010/02/05/news0036.htm

Solar power in char areas ushers in era of dev
BSS, Rangpur

Hundreds of solar power units set up in the remote and hardly reachable char villages in greater Rangpur on the Brahmaputra, Teesta and Dharla basins have ushered in a new era for uplifts and change in life style of the isolated people.

Further steps from both government and private sectors could accelerate setting up of more solar plants at lower costs in the char areas of Rangpur, Gaibandha, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram and Nilphamari in the river basins of the region.

The char people have now been thinking to realize the charter of changes of the present government by building a developed digital Bangladesh by turning their remote and hardly reachable char areas into areas of productions and income- generations.

Besides, Grameen Shakti jointly with the PDB and the Dhaka Solar Power Project set up over 150 solar power plants free for nearly 15,000 inhabitants of Dahogram- Angarpota under Patgram upazila in Lalmonirhat district a couple of years ago.

“We will be happier soon as the government has completed all construction works for supplying electricity to Dahogram- Angarpota soon following the decision jointly taken by the authorities of the two neighbouring countries recently,” the locals said.

Over 60,000 char and enclave people are presently using about 6,000 solar power units set up under the assistance of different NGOs in the char villages of greater Rangpur district in recent years and the process continues.

Reputed NGOs including BRAC, Grameen Shakti, RDRS, Protyashya, and many others have installed these solar-power units at a cost ranging between Taka 11,000 to Taka 45,000 each depending on power generation capacities on down payment basis.

Grameen Shakti have installed hundreds solar power units in Chilmari and Ostomir Char unions and many organic fertilizer producing plants at different places in Chilmari upazila of Kurigram alone during the past two and a half years.

People of Hatia, Buraburi, Onontapur, Bozra, Gunaigachh, Char Santoshbiram and Khamar Damarhat villages under Ulipur upazila in Kurigram are now using over 140 solar units provided by BRAC on easy installments.

Char dwellers Abdus Samad, Abdul Matin and Khorshed Alam of Hatibandha upazila in Lalmonirhat told that 200 families of 20 remote char villages on the Teesta basin there are now happy as several NGOs set up a number of solar power units for them.

Similarly, people of 90 char villages in 20 upazilas of Rangpur, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Kurigram and Gaibandha districts are now using solar power under the assistance of different NGOs, working in the area for socio- economic up-lifts.

The solar power users recently told BSS that they could hardly think about electricity in these remote and sandy char areas, but it became a reality as they can avail of this facility in these almost inaccessible villages.

The villagers, owners of these power units, neither suffer from low-voltage, nor get irritated due to load shedding and some of them were found crushing paddy at night using electricity from the plants.

They are now also watching TV programmes, using fans, lighting bulbs and refrigerators and charging mobile phone sets and operating some computers side by side with other daily jobs.

They are becoming aware about bad effects of drugs, child marriages, malnutrition of the pregnant women and children, reasons of maternal and child mortality, adverse effect of dowry and many other social odds by watching TV programmes, they said.

“Our study at night is not being hampered due to the uninterrupted service of the solar power units even during the inclement weather,” said a number of students adding that the solar power units are getting popularity day by day in these char villages.

The NGO officials told BSS that people are showing interest towards setting up of more solar power units in these char villages and adjoining areas and the government and NGOs are trying to provide more plants to the people of remote areas.

Solar unit users of Grameen Shakti Bimola Khatun, 37 and Noor Alam, 46 of village Byaparipara, Saiful Islam, 42 of village Khamar Bari and other char villagers of Kurigram told that they are now very happy using the solar technology.

“We are now lighting our houses with bulbs, enjoying TV programmes and knowing about our country in abroad. The children are also studying at night for solar energy in the remote char villages on the Brahmaputra basin,” they said.

Kaliakoir Hi-tech Park to be ready next month

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Kaliakoir Hi-tech Park to be ready next month

Construction of basic infrastructure for the Hi-tech IT Park at Kaliakoir in Gazipur district will be completed by next month, reports BSS.

A project involving Tk 270 million (27 crore) has been undertaken by the government for this purpose, to be completed by March this year, said State Minister for Science and Information and Communication Technology Architect Yafesh Osman in the House Wednesday.

Replying to a question from treasury bench member Chayan Islam (Sirajganj-6), he said an administrative building, internal roads, sewerage system were constructed in the IT park while gas, power and water supply, telephone and high speed internet facilities are being provided.

“The park will be established on an area of 232 acres while different IT industrial units under the Public- Private Partnership (PPP) will be encouraged in it,” he also said.

The state minister also said that the process for formation of a Hi- tech Park Authority is now at the final stage. “The government is also considering an IT village/ Hi-tech park at each divisional headquarters provided this park is proved feasible,” he said.

Yafesh Osman said that the government under the ‘Computer Training Programme Project in 64 Districts’ had already established computer lab in 96 institutions.

Work for establishing such labs in 32 educational institutions were now at the final stage, he said adding that the labs would be operational within the second week of this month.

Replying to a question from Jatiya Party member MA Jabbar, Yafesh Osman said that under this year’s special programme the government would give computer to 1,200 educational institutions at the upazila level.

Qubee sweetens Wimax offer at IT fair

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Qubee sweetens Wimax offer at IT fair
Star Business Desk

Qubee, a new brand of WiMax services, offers “real internet experience” at the ongoing City IT Fair at BCS Computer City in Dhaka.

Qubee comes up with its modem at a discounted rate of Tk 3,000, and various packages for customers, the company said in a statement.

The fair that started on January 28 for the ninth consecutive time at the same venue ends on Saturday.

The internet service provider presents Qubee Campus, a special package for only students at Tk 850. Students can browse the internet with Qubee Campus 256kbps with five gigabyte usage allowance and Campus 128kbps.

Any student with a valid student identity card can now take the offer from IDB or any Qubee store.

Qubee has another two special packages — Qubee Sky 256kbps and 512kbps.

Govt to set up industrial park in Sirajganj

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Govt to set up industrial park in Sirajganj
Golam Mostafa Jibon, Sirajganj

Industries Minister Dilip Barua said on Tuesday the government has decided to install an industrial park in Sirajganj.

The plan is now waiting for approval from the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec).

The project might be placed for approval at the upcoming Ecnec meeting, Barua said while he was visiting the proposed spot for the park at Sayedabad in the district.

The park will provide jobs for thousands of unemployed youths in the region, Barua said. A fertiliser plant will be set up there for farmers.

Remittance on the rise

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Remittance on the rise
Star Business Report

Remittance increased by 21 percent in the first seven months of the current fiscal year and stood at $6.48 billion at end-January.

The remittance inflow amounted to $950.92 million in January, while the amount was $876.33 million in December.

However, the recent negative trend in manpower export so far could not cast any shadow on the remittance inflow.

A Bangladesh Bank official said remittance earning went up as semi-skilled manpower export increased. Also banks have taken steps to boost the remittance inflow, the official said.

NBR posts 18pc revenue growth

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NBR posts 18pc revenue growth
Star Business Report

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has recorded 18 percent growth in revenue earnings in the July-December period of the current fiscal year, compared to the same period a year ago.

The tax administration collected Tk 26,437.71 crore against the Tk 26,113.91 crore target for the July-December period.

Revenue from import grew 9.44 percent, while value added tax (VAT) and income tax posted 26.31 percent and 22.68 percent growth.

But other taxes, including travel tax, have recorded 8.38 percent negative growth, according to statistics disclosed by NBR at a press conference in Dhaka yesterday.

A total of 42,522 new taxpayers have been included in the tax net in the last six months. The board had earlier launched a programme to net four lakh new taxpayers by June.

Dr Nasiruddin Ahmed, chairman of NBR, blamed complicated laws and staff shortage for the poor tax collection system.

“We are taking a series of measures to strengthen revenue collections. We are revising the rates of VAT and customs duty and taking motivational steps to increase revenue.”

The NBR will place a draft of modernised VAT and customs rules at a public seminar on February 11 and seek recommendations from stakeholders, including taxpayers and relevant government agencies.

“Simultaneously, we are taking measures to boost our Central Intelligence Cell (CIC) to spot tax evasion cases, which will ultimately help increase revenue collections,” he added.

Ahmed said thousands of pending cases are hindering revenue growth. More than 18,000 tax evasion cases that involve nearly Tk 8,000 crore in revenue are now pending with the High Court.

The NBR chief said two benches have already been formed at the High Court Division to try bank-related tax evasion cases.

However, two dedicated benches will be set up in a month or two to deal with NBR-related cases, he said.

Jahanara Siddiqui, member (customs) of NBR, was also present at the conference.

Western Marine inks deal with Dutch firm

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Western Marine inks deal with Dutch firm
Star Business Report

Leading shipbuilder Western Marine Shipyard has signed a deal with Dutch company Winteb VOF to import equipment to build eight multipurpose cargo vessels for a German company.

Under the deal, Western Marine will import ‘Air-Vent Heads’ from Winteb to build ships having capacity of 5,200 dead weight tonnage (DWT).

All the ships are expected to be delivered to the buyer by March 2011, an official said.

Albert Vander Velde, managing director of Winteb, and Md Shakhawat Hossain, managing director of Western Marine, signed the deal.

“This deal will enable us to deepen bilateral co-operation between the two countries,” said Hossain.

“We hope to hand over six ships in 2010 and the remaining two by March next year.”

The deal was signed during the visit of a 10-member Dutch delegation led by Harry Th Pronk, export manager of Dagin Marine Technology at the shipyard in Potia, Chittagong.

Doris Voorbraak, acting Dutch ambassador to Bangladesh, and representatives of various Dutch companies were in the team.

“Western Marine as a world class company will lead Bangladesh in the global shipbuilding sector,” Harry Th Pronk said during the visit.

Voorbraak said the Netherlands would take necessary steps to improve Bangladesh’s shipbuilding industry.

Abdul Mobin, director (shipyard) of Western Marine Services, delivered vote of thanks at the programme.

Western Marine Shipyard Ltd started its operation in 1994 under Western Marine Group.

Apparel, accessories fair begins in Chittagong tomorrow

http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=124606

Apparel, accessories fair begins in Chittagong tomorrow
Staff Correspondent, Ctg

The three-day Chittagong Apparel, Fabrics and Accessories Exposition begins in the port city tomorrow.

Commerce Minister Faruk Khan is expected to inaugurate the exposition organised by Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) at Chittagong Zila Krira Sangstha Indoor Stadium.

Organisers at a press conference in the port city said yesterday that 39 companies from both home and abroad would take part in CAFAXPO 2010 that will play host to 54 stalls.

Bangladesh’s garment market that was earlier dependent only on European countries and America is now expanding to Japan and some other countries, the organisers added.

One of the BGMEA leaders said higher numbers of orders with low prices make the market competitive for Bangladesh.

They sought government support to help the sector increase investment and growth to increase Bangladesh’s share in the world market.

BGMEA has been organising CAFAXPO since 2003 giving potential buyers an idea about garments, fabrics and accessories produced in Chittagong.

BGMEA leaders also highlighted different problems of the sector in Chittagong and made several recommendations.

The recommendations included immediate implementation of Bahaddarhat Flyover project by Chittagong Development Authority and the project to upgrade Dhaka-Chittagong highway into a four-lane one.

Making Karnaphuli Gas Systems Limited functional soon to ensure sufficient gas supply and raising connectivity of international flights in and out of Shah Amanat International Airport in Chittagong were also two of the recommendations.

The leaders of the garment manufacturer association urged the government to help sustain image, dynamism and efficiency of Chittagong port.

BGMEA first Vice-President Nasiruddin Chowdhury read out a written statement at the press meet where former first Vice-President Md Ershad Ullah and CAFAXPO organising committee chief coordinator Moinuddin Ahmed Mintu were also present.

Machinery suppliers see better prospect for Bangladesh apparel

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Machinery suppliers see better prospect for Bangladesh apparel
Star Business Report

A brighter future for Bangladesh in global apparel business is ahead, as international textile machinery suppliers observed yesterday.

Pointing to the significant decline in demand for high-end garment products amid financial crisis worldwide, Denise Lee, vice-president of Flying Tiger, a Taiwan-based knit machinery supplying company and a participant, told the inaugural of an international fair: “Bangladesh can supply garment items at a low price due to some advantages like cheap and available labour besides the capacity of making basic items.”

The annual seventh Dhaka International Textile and Garments Machinery Exhibition 2010 will continue for four days at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre,

Like Lee, many a participant points to the fact that countries like China, Turkey, India and Pakistan are losing competitiveness for higher wages to workers and shifting of production to the high-end garment items.

Pointing her finger at the exhibition, Lee also said such a mega event is also a reflection on how Bangladesh’s garment makers are progressing.

The speakers, particularly representatives from the firms participating, said Bangladesh, being the third largest supplier of garment products, followed by China and Turkey, has a chance to be second in near future if the potentials could be properly tapped.

But, the government should create an investment- friendly environment and build infrastructures for smooth running of business, they added.

Chan Chao International Company Ltd, a Taiwan based event management company, organised the fair where 570 companies from 30 countries are showcasing their machineries in 750 stalls.

In his inaugural speech, Abdul Latif Siddique, textiles and jute minister, asked the apparel manufacturers to shift their focus to production of value added items from the basic items to create more profit and more employment.

Dilip Barua, industries minister, said a wider scope for more investment has been enshrined in the upcoming industrial policy.

Abdul Hai Sarker, president of Bangladesh Textile Mills Association, also the co-organiser of the fair, said the industrial sector is now hit hard by the low pressure of gas.

“As a result, we could not exploit the potentials of the sector,” Sarker added.

Pvt company proposes to produce solar panels

http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2010/02/03/news0851.htm

Pvt company proposes to produce solar panels
Shamim Jahangir

A private company has placed a proposal to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) to set up an automatic solar panel manufacturing plant having capacity to produce 24 MW of solar panels annually through Public Private Partnership (PPP).

The estimated cost of the plant will be Tk500 crore.

“It will not be possible to provide electricity to all by 2021 due to severe gas crisis persisting in the country,” the Ideal Enterprise (IE) in its proposal said.

Only solar energy would be main option to supply electricity to all by this time, the proposal mentioned.

The proposal also said that the electricity generation from the solar panel is between 6 to 10 times higher compared to the diesel-fired power plant. “So, it is not possible to install the plant by the enterprise alone,” IE Director Mostakin Billah Faruque said.

“The state-owned enterprise Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (IDCOL) may invest Tk400 crore while rest of the amount will be provided by the IE for the plant,” he said.

“If the government will permit installation of the plant then the cost for solar panel will come down by one-third from the imported panels here,” he said.

Several consumers installed Tk 15,000 worth non-grid solar panels on paying initial installation deposit and Tk1,000 to Tk1,200 as monthly instalments, sources said.

“Power Division will float tender to generate electricity between 9MW and 14MW from solar energy,” a senior official of the Power Division said, adding, “All government offices and establishments will come under solar home system (SHS) within the next three years.”

The SHS will also be included in the building code, he said.

According to renewable energy policy, the government has targeted to produce 450MW electricity from renewable energy by 2015 while it will be 1,600MW by 2020.

Of the government’s target, the Power Division targeted to produce 200MW of electricity from wind energy while it will be 100MW from solar energy by 2013.