Chevron starts drilling well at Kajol to fix gas reserve

http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/more.php?news_id=126751&date=2011-02-20

Chevron starts drilling well at Kajol to fix gas reserve
FHM Humayan Kabir

The US oil company Chevron has started drilling an exploratory well at the potential Kajol structure in the southern Patuakhali district aimed at determining the actual gas reserve and the locations for developing wells, officials said.

State-owned energy corporation Petrobangla officials said the US company, now operating in Bangladesh, has found presence of gas at the Kajol structure under Block-7 upon completing two-dimensional survey in 2009.

“Since the survey has found gas structure at Kajol, Chevron has recently begun drilling an exploratory well to ascertain the volume of actual reserve and select sites for developing gas wells,” a senior Petrobangla official told the FE.

A Chevron official in Dhaka said, “Based on a preliminary assessment we are hopeful of some 0.50 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of reserve at the Kajol structure under block-7, situated in Barisal, Patuakhali, Jhalakathi and Pirojpur districts.”

“We would drill the exploratory well up to a 4500-metre depth at the country’s southern potential structure,” he said requesting anonymity as he is not entitled to talk to the media.

“If the exploratory well clicks there, we will start well development works from the next year to lift gas,” the Chevron official said.

Chevron, operator of the country’s largest gas production field in north-eastern Bibiyana, started 2D seismic survey at the gas block-7 in late 2008 to explore hydrocarbon presence in a bid to procure gas.

As per direction of Petrobangla, Chevron conducted survey on 465-line kilometres investing nearly US$ 12 million funds at three sites including Kajol, Amtoli and Chandramohan areas in Patuakhali.

“We’ve asked the US energy company to complete the ongoing drilling as soon as possible and start developing wells for producing gas from the very prospective field,” the senior Petrobangla official said.

“We want gas supply to the national grid from the potential structure from as early as next year,” he added.

Amid the prevailing gas crisis and the country’s growing energy demand, the US oil company has undertaken the move to explore and lift gas in Block-7.

The state-owned Petrobangla supplies about 1980 million cubic feet of gas per day (mcfd) against the demand for over 2500 mcfd.

The Petrobangla official said Chevron has plans to add gas to the national transmission line from Kajol installing pipelines up to the nearest national grid in the onshore area.

Chevron is working in Bangladesh to extract gas at three blocks including Block-7 under three separate production sharing contracts. It is now supplying nearly 900 mcfd of gas from the Bibiyana, Jalalabad and Moulvibazar gas fields to the state-run energy corporation Petrobangla.

The US company, which took over Unocal’s operations in Bangladesh, alone accounts for about 80 per cent of total daily gas production by the international oil companies in Bangladesh with its giant Bibiyana gas field alone supplying nearly 20 per cent of the country’s daily gas supply.

Japan targets Bangladesh for pedal-powered water purifier

http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=174497

Japan targets Bangladesh for pedal-powered water purifier

The Cycloclean. Source: http://inhabitat.com/cycloclean-uses-pedal-power-to-purify-water-for-drinking/

Afp, Kawasaki, Japan

A Japanese company is gearing up for large-scale production in Bangladesh of a bicycle that can also be used to purify water at disaster zones or remote villages.

“If you can bike to a river, pond, pool or other sources of water, all you need is your leg power to produce clean drinking water,” Yuichi Katsuura, president of Nippon Basic Co, said on Thursday as he introduced the system.

Cycloclean needs only manpower to turn a bike chain driving a motor to pump water through a series of filters, unlike other systems requiring gasoline or electricity. It can purify five litres (1.3 gallons) of water in a minute.

The bike boasts puncture-free tyres, while the pump and hoses are housed in an attache case-like box on the rear carrier and three filter cartridges are fitted around the rear wheel.

Nippon Basic, based in Kawasaki near Tokyo, has sold 200 bikes since first launching Cycloclean in Japan in 2005 at 550,000 yen (6,600 dollars) each, Katsuura said.

Many of the bikes went to Japanese local governments but a small number were sold to Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Myanmar and the Philippines, he said.

Katsuura said the company had seen demand rise in Bangladesh and started local assembly late last year, partly to reduce the price in cooperation with a Bangladeshi bicycle maker.

“We hope local production will go into full swing around April,” he said, adding his firm and local partners were aiming for annual production of 100-200 units.

Katsuura argued Bangladesh’s millions of rickshaws would decrease as its economy grows but that a bike-water business could provide new jobs to some of the drivers.

“You go to where water is, put your bicycle on a stand, drop a pump and peddle for clean water, which can then be sold elsewhere,” he said.

He added that the pump was capable of sucking up water at a depth of five metres despite its “low-tech appearance”.

Cycloclean was on display at an environment-friendly technology fair in Kawasaki, near Tokyo, which ends Thursday.

Related Links:
http://www.nipponbasic.ecnet.jp/cc.html

Bumper production of spicy crops likely in northern Bangladesh this season

http://www.bssnews.net/newsDetails.php?cat=0&id=161670&date=2011-02-17

Bumper production of spicy crops likely in northern Bangladesh this season

RANGPUR, Feb 17 BSS) – A bumper production of the spicy crops is likely in northern Bangladesh following massive steps taken by the government to make the fixed farming programme successful this season, officials and experts said.

The farmers have exceeded the fixed farming target of the spicy crops and harvests of onion, garlic, chilli, dhania, ginger and turmeric have been continuing with excellent yield rates to contain their market prices now, they said.

Additional Director of Rangpur Zone of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) Mohsin Ali said the government has taken various steps to increase production of all kinds of spicy crops to meet local demand and reduce dependency on import.

Horticulturist Mezbahul Islam said that DAE has intensified its motivational activities under the ongoing seven-year Special Action Plan (SAP) launched in 2004 for increasing oil seed, pulse and spice productions by 15 percent in the country.

The DAE provides the farmers with quality seeds, inputs and trainings and assistance in proper crop diversification, land management and utilization of latest technologies that encouraged farmers effectively for large-scale spices farming this season, he said.

Besides, disbursements of the easiest term agri-loans at only two percent interest rate among the farmers as per directions of the Bangladesh Bank has been proved to be very effective for expanding spicy crop cultivation.

To make the country self-reliant in spices, the government has set a massive target of producing 23.23 lakh tonnes of spicy crops on 4.66 lakh hectares and taken adequate steps to make the programme a success this season.

The fixed national target includes production of 9,86,006 tonnes of onion, garlic, dhania, chilli, turmeric and ginger from 1,58,412 hectares in all 16 northern districts, the DAE sources said.

However, the farmers have cultivated these spicy crops on over 1.62 lakh hectares land , which is almost two percent higher than the fixed farming target for the region, the sources said.

Agri-scientist Dr MA Mazid told BSS that production of spices could be increased further through proper crop diversification, utilization of the latest technologies as the people including the landless are farming spices now on the fallow lands and homesteads.

French company invests US$ 2.98 million in Comilla EPZ

http://www.bssnews.net/newsDetails.php?cat=0&id=161309&date=2011-02-15

French company invests US$ 2.98 million in Comilla EPZ

DHAKA, Feb 15 (BSS)- BMT International Limited, a French company, will set up a sofa covers, bed mattress cover and polyester padding manufacturing industry in Comilla Export Processing Zone.

The fully foreign owned company will invest $ 2.98 million in the project.

The company will also create employment opportunity for 974 persons including 4 foreign nationals.

An agreement to this effect was signed between Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) and BMT International Limited on BEPZA Complex here today.

AZM Azizur Rahman, General Manager (Investment Promotion) of BEPZA and Morgan Terigi, Director of BMT International Limited signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organizations.

Major General ATM Shahidul Islam, Executive Chairman of BEPZA, among others, was present at the signing ceremony.

BMDA taken massive plan to cultivate Boro paddy in N’district

http://www.bssnews.net/newsDetails.php?cat=4&id=161218&date=2011-02-15

BMDA taken massive plan to cultivate Boro paddy in N’district

GAIBANDHA, Feb 15 (BSS)- Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA) has taken up a massive plan to cultivate Boro paddy in five northern districts during this season through providing irrigation facilities to the farmers at low cost.

Office sources said a total of 26,200 hectares of land of Rangpur, Nilphamari, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat and Gaibandha districts under Rangpur Circle of BMDA would be brought under this cultivation this year with the production target of 1,31,000 metric tones of paddy through providing irrigation facilities from 1040 electricity run deep tube wells installed its command areas.

Of the total, some 7,425 hectares of land would be cultivated by operating 297 submersible deep tube wells in Rangpur district, 3,925 hectares by 157 deep tube wells in Nilphamari, 6,250 hectares by 250 deep tube wells in Kurigram district, 3,275 hectares by 143 deep tube wells in Lalmonirhat and 5,025 hectares by 193 deep tube wells in Gaibandha district, sources said.

The farmers of the districts are now so much busy to lift the seedlings from the seed beds and transplant those in the prepared land following the suggestions of the field level agri officials to achieve the target fixed by the BMDA.

Over 80 percent of cultivation has already been completed and the rest will be finished within very short time, said M. Habibur Rahman Khan, executive engineer of the authority.

In the command areas, UPVC pipes were also installed under the ground to supply water from all the deep tube wells to Boro land to check about 40 percent water misuse and wastage and to save 17 percent arable land used for drain construction, he also said.

Talking to BSS superintending engineer and project director of BMDA M. Monwar Hossain said the farmers are to pay Tk 1500-2000 directly or individually on an average per bigha of land when they purchase irrigation water from the local providers who operate their power or diesel run shallow machines.

On the contrary, the farmers of BMDA command areas are to pay only Tk 500-600 against per bigha to the authority on irrigation charge coupon system to get irrigation water for the same one bigha of land from the BMDA operated deep tube wells, he also said.

To make the Boro cultivation programme undertaken by BMDA a grand success, the government has also ensured the supply of electricity, fertilizers, seeds, insecticides and other agri inputs to the growers at fair prices, Executive Engineer of BMDA, Gaibandha M Noor Islam said.

Country’s mobile users cross 70m landmark

http://www.theindependentbd.com/business/others/34610-countrys-mobile-users-cross-70m-landmark.html

Country’s mobile users cross 70m landmark
Mashiur Rahaman

DHAKA, FEB 15: Number of the country’s active mobile phone users has crossed 70 million landmark at the end of January, 2011 but overall monthly growth rate slowed, state data revealed. Bangladesh Telecommu-nication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) on Tuesday released the monthly update of cell phone subscribers’ number, revealed that the country’s six operating mobile phone operators have 70.34 million active users till January 2011.

The first month of 2011 has added 1.69 million new mobile users with 68.64 million subscribers’ base recorded at the end of December 2010. Growth in January was considerably slower than its previous month’s data of 2.024 million, BTRC released data revealed.

Maintaining absolute domination over the country’s cell phone subscriber base, Grameen Phone – the local concern of the Norwegian mobile operating giant Telenor, has reached 30 million users’ mark at 30.42 million, adding 0.45 million new users within the month.

Egyptian Orascom Telecom’s Banglalink retained the second spot adding 0.711 million clients in last one month. The number of Banglalink users reached 20.038 million till January 2011.

Joining together, GP and Banglalink holds 50.47 million subscribers till January of this year, contributed 72 per cent of the country’s total cell phone subscribers base.

Robi, formerly known as AKTEL, owned by Axiata (Bangladesh) Ltd, remained in the third position with 12.62 million customers. It added 0.26 million subscribers in January.

Airtel Bangladesh Limited (Airtel) and Pacific Bangladesh Telecom Limited (Citycell) posted 4.18 million and 1.858 million users, added 0.228 million and 0.047 million subscribers accordingly.

The state-run TeleTalk not only remained at bottom place with 1.204 million customers but also suffered a fall in subscriber base in January 2011. Number of TeleTalk users dropped by 0.007 from 1.211 million recorded at the end of December 2010.

Responding to an inquiry, a top official of the country’s leading telecom operators said that the complication in licence renewal and extraordinary renewal fees proposed by BRTC have frustrated operators and could slowdown immediate investment, vital for innovative services and to attract fresh subscribers.

Bumper wheat yield likely in Gopalganj

http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/more.php?news_id=126334&date=2011-02-16

Bumper wheat yield likely in Gopalganj

GOPALGANJ: A wheat field at Char Sonakair shows an excellent production of the crop. — FE photo

Our Correspondent

GOPALGANJ, Feb 15: The farmers of Gopalganj district are expecting a bumper production of wheat in the current season.

According to Department of Agriculture Exrtension (DAE) sources, a total of 4,983 hectares of land in five Upazilas of Gopalganj district have been brought under wheat cultivation and the production target is 13,952 metric tonnes this year.

Of the five upazilas in Gopalganj district, Muksudpur Upazila is an ideal place for wheat cultivation in the district. Around 3300 hectares of land of the Upazila have been brought under wheat cultivation with a production target of 9,240 metric tonnes.

In Gopalganj Sadar Upazila 833 hectares of land have been brought under wheat cultivation and the production target is 2,332 metric tonnes.

As much as 550 hectares of land in Kasiani Upazila have been brought under wheat cultivation and production with a target of 1540 metric tonnes (MT).

In Kotalipara Upazila, a total of 50 hectares of land have been brought under wheat cultivation with a production target of 140 metric tonnes (MT). And in Tungipara 250 hectares of land with a production target of 700 metric tonnes has been earmarked.

Hitu Sheikh, a wheat farmer of village Char-Sonakair village under Gopalganj Sadar told this correspondent that sufficient water supply and agri-inputs with favourable weather favoured wheat production this year.

Bhaskkar Chakrabati, D.D, Agriculture, Gopalganj told the FE that smooth supply of water and agree-inputs, such as fertilisers and pesticides boosted wheat production in the district.

Tk 4.25b project to treat water of Hatirjhil

http://www.daily-sun.com/?view=details&type=daily_sun_news&pub_no=130&cat_id=1&menu_id=3&news_type_id=1&index=4

Tk 4.25b project to treat water of Hatirjhil
Mazharul Anwar Khan

The sewerage water falling into the Balu river through Hatirjhil and adjacent areas will be treated in a bid to ensure pollution free water flows in the river.

The government has undertaken a project apprehending possible environmental threat as the sewerage and drainage water will directly fall into the Balu river after completion of the Hatirjhill project.

The Sewerage Water Treatment Project involving a cost of Tk 4.25 billion will be implemented by 2014, said planning commission sources.

Local government, rural development and cooperative ministry will implement the project.

The Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) has already approved the project which was included in the annual development programme (ADP) without fund allocation in the fiscal 2010-11.

At present, the sewerage and drainage water of Hatirjhil and adjacent areas fall into the Balu River through the Begunbari canal.

After the completion of the comprehensive development project of Hatirjil and adjacent area, the sewerage water will be plunged into the Balu river directly through Rampura bridge, sources said.

A water treatment plant at the Hatirjhil site is essential as it will emerge as a threat for the Sayedabad Water Treatment Plant, sources said.

The sewerage water of the Hatirjhill will be carried into the proposed water treatment plant in Dareshkandi through pumps to be installed near Rampura bridge.

Besides, the sewerage of Gulshan, Baridhara, Banani, Badda and Basundhara residential areas will be treated under the proposed project.

A feasibility study financed by World Bank has been conducted which recommended to install three separates water treatment plants in Dareshkandi with 30.24 billion litres, 29.64 billion litres and 33.60 billion litres capacities.

Besides, WASA is contemplating to install another water treatment plant with the help of BRTC of BUET involving a cost of Tk 5 billion.

The main activities of the project are installation of a sewerage treatment plant with a capacity of treating 500,000 cubic metres per day, 100 acres of land acquisition, setting up three lifting pumps with gas generator in Dareshkandi and HT power connection and others works.

FBCCI proposes special Japanese EPZ

http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=174233

FBCCI proposes special Japanese EPZ
Tokyo keen to invest in RMG, food processing

FBCCI Vice President Mostofa Azad Chowdhury Babu speaks at a discussion with a Japanese delegation of Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, led by its international business committee Chairman Yutaka Ienaga, at FBCCI boardroom in Dhaka yesterday. Photo: FBCCI

Star Business Report

Bangladesh’s business leaders have proposed that Japanese put all efforts to have a separate export processing zone of their own here, which could help raise bilateral trade.

“Japan had set up special Japanese EPZ in China, Thailand and Indonesia. It could also set up such special EPZ in Chittagong and establish direct air link between Tokyo and Bangladesh’s prime port city or via Myanmar or Thailand,” Mostofa Azad Chowdhury Babu, vice president of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry, told a visiting Japanese business delegation yesterday.

Babu also pointed to Bangladesh’s $330.55 million exports to the Asian economic giant last fiscal year against $1.04 billion imports.

Foreign investors have ample scope to invest in the export-oriented industries that make high technology products, the FBCCI leader said. He also pointed out that these industrial units in a special zone could diversify the usage of native natural resources.

Bangladesh needs Japanese support to produce quality product with new technology and competitive price. Woven and knit garment, leather and footwear, shrimps, jute yarn and jute goods are the main products that the country exports to Japan, Babu said.

“In our export trade with Japan, we’re facing stiff competition from China, Korea, Vietnam and Indonesia who have advantage of proximity to Japan,” he said.

During the meeting with Bangladesh’s apex trade body, Yutaka Ienaga, leader of the nine-member delegation that wrapped up its 3-day Dhaka visit last night, expressed their keenness to invest in some sectors such as readymade garment (RMG), manufacture of machinery and food processing.

“We want to invest in Bangladesh. Some of us are in talks with the local partners,” said Ienaga, pointing to Bangladesh’s scope to up RMG exports to Japan as the rules of origin have recently been proposed to be relaxed.

Ienaga is chairman of International Business Committee of Japan’s Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The Japanese government will bring down the three-stage formulation to a two-stage one in the case of imports of knitwear to award least developed countries a duty-free access.

Bangladesh, an LDC, is supposed to reap greater benefit from the proposed changes in line with generalised system of preferences (GSP). The relaxed RoO might come into force in April for the LDCs.

Once the new formula is in place, knitwear makers will be able to export to Japan, even if the item is made of imported yarn.

Under the current three-stage formulation, knitwear exporters have to make garments from the fabrics manufactured from locally spun yarn, although raw cotton is imported.

A 17 percent duty on the imports of knitwear items from the countries beyond the LDC category is now in place to protect the age-old Japanese knitwear industry. But the LDCs have long been enjoying zero tariff in woven exports to the Japan market.

Bangladesh signs five-year trade agreement with Kuwait

http://www.bssnews.net/newsDetails.php?cat=0&id=161173&date=2011-02-14

Bangladesh signs five-year trade agreement with Kuwait

DHAKA, Feb 14 (BSS)- Bangladesh today signed a trade agreement with Kuwait to boost trade transactions between the two countries.

Commerce Minister Lt Col (retd) Faruk Khan and Minister of Commerce and Industry of Kuwait Ahmed Rashed Al-Haroun signed the agreement on behalf of their respective governments at the latter’s office in Kuwaiti capital.

In the agreement, two countries expressed their keen desire to promote and diversify exchange of goods and services between them, said a message received here today.

Under the agreement, the two countries will also provide each other the necessary support to participate in trade fairs in the international arena. The agreement is renewable for another five years on its expiry.

Prior to signing of the agreement, Faruk Khan was received by his Kuwaiti counterpart at Kuwait’s Ministry’s Complex.

Both the Ministers led their teams in the bilateral trade talks.

They emphasized the need for furthering cooperation between the two countries in the areas of trade and economy.

Kuwaiti Commerce Minister Al- Haroun said that his country could import food from Bangladesh.

Faruk Khan thanked his counterpart for extending warm hospitality to him and his delegation.

He congratulated the Minister of Kuwait on the 50th Anniversary of their Independence and 20th Anniversary of Liberation and through him to the Government and the People of Kuwait.

He also referred to the participation of Bangladesh Armed Forces in the Liberation of Kuwait and urged his counterpart to increase import from Bangladesh, particularly Readymade Garments, Medicine, Jute and Jute goods, food products, ceramics, leather and leather goods.

Faruk Khan said Kuwait could also import ship from Bangladesh and categorically requested his Kuwaiti counterpart to waive five percent custom duty operative on imports from Bangladesh.

Faruk Khan requested Kuwaiti Minister to recruit unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled manpower, such as technicians, engineers, doctors, teachers from Bangladesh.

Other members of Kuwait side at the talk were Under Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry Abdul Aziz Al-Khaldi, Kuwait Ambassador to Bangladesh, and high officials of the ministry. Bangladesh side included Bangladesh Ambassador to Kuwait Syed Shahed Reza and joint Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce Monoj Kumar Roy.

Rubber exports rose 103pc during July-January

http://www.theindependentbd.com/business/finance/34428-rubber-exports-rose-103pc-during-july-january.html

Rubber exports rose 103pc during July-January
AKRAM HOSSAIN

Dhaka, Feb 14:Rubber producers and exporters have witnessed exponential growth in the last seven months, on the back of rising demand in international and domestic markets. During July-January, earnings from rubber exports stood at USD 10.06 million, an increase of 103.64% over the corresponding period in the previous year, according to data published by Export Promotion Bureau (EPB). Target for rubber exports were set at USD 5.71 million, for the period under review.

Businessmen from 54 countries, specially India, China, Saint Barthélemy, Malaysia, Turkey, Singapore and Pakistan are showing keen interest over Bangladeshi raw and processed rubber for its quality, Syed Moazzam Hossain, president, The Bangladesh Rubber Garden Owners Association (BRGOA), told The Independent. “This year, we are not far from the targeted rubber exports,” he added.

The global shortage and price-hike of rubber were forcing international traders to treat Bangladesh as an alternative source, he pointed out. “The budget has imposed 15 per cent VAT on us, restricting the sector’s growth,” Hossain said.

Local planters sell rubber latex sheets, which are perishable items, for industrial use, he said, adding, “Sandals made from raw rubber is supposed VAT free. But producers still have to fork out VAT.”

Imposing VAT on raw rubber is “unfair”, as the government has withdrawn VAT from all agro-based products, such as rice, jute, potato or tomato, to boost growth in these sectors, he said. A rubber tree absorbs more carbon dioxide than other trees, Hossain said, adding that the new VAT will also threaten the environment and discourage plantation.

A 17-member delegation had visited Malaysia from January 26 to 29, to gain knowledge and exchange views on rubber plantation and processing, explore areas of possible cooperation, and establish business network between rubber planters of the two countries, he added. Growers said a large number of foreign traders were looking for rubber here, as its price in the local market was lower than that of current global prices, which has gone up in an unprecedented manner.

Cultivation of rubber is relatively new in Bangladesh, compared to other countries. The government has been encouraging plantations in the hill areas, since 1980. About 45,000 acres of land have been allotted to the BFIDC so far, and 32,500 acres to private owners, for rubber plantations.

Bangladesh to sign trade deal with Kuwait

http://www.theindependentbd.com/business/others/34257-bangladesh-to-sign-trade-deal-with-kuwait.html

Bangladesh to sign trade deal with Kuwait
UNB

Dhaka, Feb 13: A Bangladeshi delegation led by Commerce Minister Faruk Khan on Sunday left for Kuwait, where Bangladesh would sign an agreement with Kuwait tomorrow (Monday) to expand bilateral trade between the two countries. The nine-member delegation will also join a seminar to be held in Kuwait City on ‘Trade and Investment Potentials in Bangladesh’ on Tuesday.

Two government officials and six private sector representatives including FBCCI president AK Azad, NRB chairperson MS Sekhil Chowdhury and BGMEA director Mohammad Nasir are accompanying the commerce minister.

Textile machinery sales rise

http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=174137

Textile machinery sales rise
Star Business Report

Textile and apparel machinery sellers look to Bangladesh as a lucrative business destination because of the country’s stronghold in global readymade garment trade.

Sales of textile machinery are increasing due to high demand from the garment manufacturers, said exhibitors at the eighth Dhaka International Textiles and Garments Machinery Exhibition at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre yesterday.

“Sales here have been increasing over the last two years. The country’s garment sector was unhurt from the global recession and the machinery exporters targeted Bangladesh,” said Thomas Chang, vice manager of the China-based Kyang Yhe (Dong Guan) Machinery Co Ltd.

Bangladesh is an attractive destination for textile machinery business because the garment manufacturers in the country are either expanding or investing in new projects, he said.

“We have not opened any sales office in Dhaka yet, but we are looking for agents to market our products,” said Chan.

Bangladesh is also luring the fabrics exporters because the country imports nearly 60 percent of its fabrics for the woven garment, mainly from China.

“We have a good number of customers in Bangladesh and our business is increasing,” said Faye, a sales executive of Yingrui Industries, a China-based denim textile company.

The textile machinery business will grow in the country within the next 10 years, said Golam Faruque, chief executive officer of Fareetex Tech Company, a Bangladeshi concern which imports textile machinery.

Faruque, who has been showcasing the denim fabrics designing machinery, said demand for such machinery is increasing in Bangladesh.

In his inaugural speech, Jahangir Alamin, president of Bangladesh Textile Mills Association, said 620 exhibitors from 31 countries are exhibiting their products this year, while the number was 570 exhibitors last year.

BTMA, Yorkers Trade and Marketing Service of Hong Kong and Chan Chao jointly organised the exhibition to showcase the textile machinery, fabrics and apparel accessories, which will end on February 16.

Textiles and Jute Minister Abdul Latif Siddiqui also spoke.

Samsung opens R&D centre

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Samsung opens R&D centre

Syed Modasser Ali, third from left, the prime minister's health affairs adviser, is seen at the launch of a research and development centre of Samsung Electronics Company in Dhaka yesterday. Photo: STAR

Star Business Report

Samsung Electronics Company Ltd, the world’s largest technology company by sales, yesterday launched its research and development centre in Dhaka, the first of its kind by any multinational company in Bangladesh.

Yeafesh Osman, state minister for science and information and communication technology, inaugurated the Samsung Bangladesh R&D Centre Ltd at a ceremony at Uday Tower in Gulshan.

The centre, the Seoul-based company’s 18th R&D centre in the world and second in South Asia, will reinforce the journey of the government toward implementing a ‘Digital Bangladesh’, he added.

“Bangladesh and its IT industry have immense potential. Unfortunately, limited opportunities have opened for skilled graduates of Bangladesh, who are quite considerable in number, to work for big IT companies.”

The South Korean technology powerhouse aims to utilise the strengths of the skilled workforce of Bangladesh by actively responding to the rising calls of those aspiring to put to test their software-related capabilities.

The company has already recruited over 100 Bangladeshi engineers for the centre to develop mobile devices for Asia, Africa and Australia. The centre now plans to hire 1,000 engineers by 2013, said NamKyu Lee, managing director of SBRC Ltd, later at another event at the Westin Dhaka.

“Local talents are leaving Bangladesh to get world-class jobs, and consequently the country is losing its skilled human resources. The R&D centre will open a world of opportunities for them and the industry,” he said.

“In Bangladesh, our target is to become the best R&D centre in the world,” said Lee, adding that the centre would also focus on advanced technology and conduct other IT researches.

Prof Syed Modasser Ali, adviser to the prime minister on health affairs, said the R&D centre is very important for any country, as it helps the society go forward.

Kiho Kim, global head of digital media and communications for the R&D Centre of Samsung, said: “The research centre is going to create a synergy effect as the company aims to train the engineers and market its products in the region.”

He said the Digital Bangladesh Vision of the government has brought in a great opportunity for the people and the country’s IT industry. “This centre will help attract other global companies to set their R&D centres in Bangladesh.”

TaiYoung Cho, Korean ambassador to Bangladesh, said the project would have great implications on the ICT sector and bilateral relations between the two countries. “The Bangladeshi government should come up with full-fledged support to make it a win-win venture.”

He said Samsung has taken a right decision by choosing Bangladesh as the destination for its second R&D centre in South Asia, as the country is full of talents and innovative too.

Bangladesh Computer Samity President Mostafa Jabbar and Bangladesh Computer Council Executive Director Md Mahfuzur Rahman also spoke.

SME Foundation to widen its reach

http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=173915

Pockets of Change
SME Foundation to widen its reach

A view of a training programme on business accounting for small and medium enterprises. Photo: SME Foundation

Md Fazlur Rahman

The SME Foundation plans to set up offices in divisional cities across the country to serve small and medium enterprises easily, officials said.

The state-run agency responsible for developing the sector across the country has already held talks with development partner Department for International Development (DFID) in this regard and sought help.

“We are trying to get fund from sources. If we get that we will establish our divisional offices to serve the SMEs easily throughout the country in near future,” said SME Foundation Chairperson Aftab ul Islam.

He said the foundation would continue taking bold steps for promoting enterprises and entrepreneurs of the sector.

A high-powered delegation of DFID headed by its country representative Chris Austin and senior private sector advisor Catherine Martin visited the office of SME Foundation in the city last month, when the assistance in establishing divisional offices was sought, an official of the foundation said.

Islam also said in Bangladesh the foundation would introduce a credit-wholesaling programme to give financial support to the small entrepreneurs.

“There is a need for ensuring easy credit access for the SME entrepreneurs, as the number of small entrepreneurs without access to credit is large,” he said. “We also have a plan for the interest of entrepreneurs to ease the procedure of term loans at a low interest rate.”

SME Foundation Managing Director Syed Rezwanul Kabir said people in the capital all know about the activities of the foundation. “But our target is to promote SME activities across the country. So, we need offices in divisional levels.”

“If we can set up offices at major cities, then we will be able to cater to enterprises in the surrounding districts in a more effective way. We are working on three E’s — enterprise, empowerment and employment — which altogether will bring sustainable economic growth,” he told The Daily Star yesterday.

Kabir said they hope to start offices in divisional cities by June or July this year on pilot basis.

He said the foundation has sought initial support from DFID. “Ultimately, we will have to build up a basis, which will make the offices self-sustaining.”