McKinsey paints buoyant future for RMG exports

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McKinsey paints buoyant future for RMG exports

Star Business Report

Bangladesh’s apparel exports could triple by 2020 as European and US buyers plan to strengthen their presence in the country and new players enter the market seen as ‘next China’, according to a prestigious study.

McKinsey & Company, a global management consulting firm and trusted adviser to the world’s leading businesses, governments and institutions, said Bangladesh’s high growth at the readymade garment sector would continue for a decade.

The country’s sourcing market will get crowded amid incumbents buyers’ plan to stay for long and new markets are increasingly becoming important customers for Bangladesh, said the US-based company.

“Depending on how well the most severe issues can be managed, the market will realistically develop at an annual rate of 7-9 percent within the next ten years, resulting in an export value of

Full report in star business around $36 billion to $42 billion,” it said.

Bangladesh fetched $12.59 billion from garment exports in 2010-2011, accounting for around 80 percent of national exports and 13 percent of gross national product, according to government data.

Recently, McKinsey has conducted a study to review Bangladesh’s RMG growth formula. It is an extensive interview-based survey of chief purchasing officers from leading apparel players in Europe and the US, who account for $46 billion in total apparel sourcing value and covering 66 percent of all apparel exports from Bangladesh.

The study also included telephone-based survey of more than 100 local garment suppliers and in-depth research.

It said, while China is starting to lose its attractiveness due to a rise in costs of doing business, the sourcing caravan is moving on to the next hot spot. Costs have also increased significantly in other key sourcing markets, leading buyers to question their current sourcing strategies.

In 2010, China dominated RMG imports to Europe and the US, accounting for about 40 percent of the import volume in each region. But the McKinsey survey shows that CPOs almost unanimously favour moving some of their sourcing away from China. Fifty-four percent of them shared their plans to decrease their activities in the world’s second largest economy by up to 10 percent, while 23 percent stated that they sought to decrease their share of sourcing by more than 10 percent over the next five years.

“As western buyers search for the ‘next China’, they are evaluating all options to strengthen their proximity sourcing, moving on to Northwest China, Southeast Asia, and other Far East supplier countries. Bangladesh is clearly the preferred next stop for the sourcing caravan.”

It said other markets in Southeast Asia will increase their exports too, but will not be able to replace — at least in the near future — Bangladesh as a viable RMG sourcing hub.

Bangladesh offers the two main “hard” advantages — price and capacity. It also provides satisfactory quality levels, especially in value and entry-level mid-market products, said the research firm.

All CPOs named price attractiveness as the first and foremost reason for purchasing in Bangladesh, and said the country’s price levels will remain highly competitive in the future.

Half of the CPOs mentioned capacity as the second-biggest advantage of Bangladesh. With a current 5,000 RMG factories employing about 3.6 million workers, the country is clearly ahead of Southeast Asian suppliers in terms of capacity offered (e.g., Indonesia has about 2,450 factories, Vietnam 2,000, and Cambodia 260 factories).

Other markets, such as India and Pakistan, would have the potential to be high-volume supply markets, but high risk or structural workforce factors prevent utilisation of their capacity.

A high share of European CPOs strongly emphasise the advantages of sourcing in Bangladesh due to favorable trade agreements, with the broadening of the EU Generalised System of Preferences rules on duty-free imports of garments from the country.

Taking these drivers into account, Bangladesh’s RMG industry will continue to face growing demand. The CPOs of value players want to increase the value of their sourcing in Bangladesh by about a 10 percent annual growth rate, whereas mid-market players plan an annual growth rate of around 14 percent.

While Bangladesh represents some very promising advantages in certain dimensions, a number of challenges could create hurdles for companies seeking to source from the country.

For all business stakeholders, infrastructure (transport and utilities supply) is the single largest issue hampering Bangladesh’s RMG industry. The power supply issue seems more likely solvable within the next two or three years, although 90 percent of local suppliers rate the current energy supply as very poor or poor.

Some 93 percent of the European and US CPOs interviewed agreed that the compliance standard in Bangladesh has somewhat improved (67 percent) or strongly improved (26 percent) within the last five years. However, gaps exist and new risks may be emerging.

A gap between customer requirements and supplier capabilities or investment plans is emerging, as currently only 50 to 100 local garment manufacturers are able to produce at an advanced level in terms of product categories, productivity, services and compliance.

Apart from a lack of investment in new machinery and technologies, the current insufficient size of skilled workforce also impedes an increase in productivity and a move towards more sophisticated products.

Experts estimate that there is currently a 25 percent shortage of skilled workers in Bangladesh’s RMG industry.

Also, existing challenges will multiply if suppliers are not able to fill higher-skill middle management positions, according to McKinsey.

The European and US CPOs say economy and political stability are one of the key areas of risk when sourcing in Bangladesh. About half of them said they would reduce the value of their sourcing in the country if political stability was to decrease. A majority of them sees corruption as a major hurdle for doing business in Bangladesh.

It says productivity needs to improve to close the existing productivity gap in comparison to other sourcing countries.

The McKinsey study said the potential for Bangladesh’s RMG growth can be realised only if the challenges in areas of infrastructure, compliance, supplier performance and workforce supply, raw materials, and economy and political stability are tackled.

The study notes the three main stakeholders — government, suppliers and buyers — can accomplish the development potential and solve Bangladesh’s RMG growth formula. “Only if wholehearted efforts are led by all stakeholders together, will the stage be set to support a future ‘rebranding’ of Bangladesh.”

Bangladesh all set for global outsourcing hub for RMG

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Bangladesh all set for global outsourcing hub for RMG

DHAKA, Dec 18 (BSS) – From the today’s position of the world’s second largest apparel exporters, Bangladesh all is set for getting the status of the global outsourcing hub in the next decade.

“With garment buyers moving out of China, the sourcing caravan is moving on to the next hotspot Bangladesh,” the latest report of McKinsey & Company said, providing an overview of the rapid growth of Bangladesh apparel sector with its prospect and areas of concern.

The report, prepared by the highly creditable and trusted German consultant in association with the Bangladesh German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BGCCI), will be released on Tuesday. But, it is now available on McKinsey’s website.

Citing the trend of global buyers, the report forecast that Bangladesh would fetch up to US$ 42 billion from RMG export in the next 10 years with maintaining an annual growth between 7 and 9 percent.

The report in its near-term estimate also said that the earning would be double by 2015 and triple by 2020.

According to the report, Bangladesh will be able the next hot-spot of RMG outsourcing even though the other countries in Southeast Asia will increase their exports to the global market.

The report said a growing number of chief purchasing officers (CPOs) of Europe and US apparel companies are reviewing their sourcing strategies after margin and supplier capacity pressure promoted them search the next viable source.

With Bangladesh having developed a strong position among Europe and US buyers, many companies from overseas are eagerly evaluating the future potential.

The report said the global buyers once considered China as “the place to be” for outsourcing, but they are now shifting their focus on Bangladesh with bigger target.

In 2010, China dominated RMG imports to Europe and the US with 40 per cent of the import volume in each region. The macro trends of wage increases and capacity pressure, however, have proven to heavy weigh on the Chinese RMG sector.

McKinsey’s survey shows that CPOs of leading apparel buyers in Europe and the US almost unanimously favor moving some of their sourcing away from China.

As western RMG buyers search for the ‘next China’, they are evaluating all options to strengthen their proximity sourcing, moving on to Northwest China, Southeast Asia and Fareast supplier countries. Bangladesh is clearly the preferred next stop for the sourcing caravan.

The report said the advantages in price, capacity, capability and trade regulations provides the base for positive RMG growth in Bangladesh, which will be accelerated further in the future, driven by the increasing demand of international buyers from Europe, US and many emerging markets.

The report, however, said that the country’s RMG sector would face some major challenges to achieve the status of global hub. The challenges include poor infrastructure, limited inland transport alternatives and lack of deep-sea port.

Bangladesh started RMG export in 1978 when the country earned only US$12,000. This earning over the years increased rapidly and stood at US$17.91 million this year.

Presently, the country exports quality garment items to USA, EU, Canada, Germany, France, UK, the Netherlands, Spain and Italy. Russia, Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Japan and India are the potential markets for Bangladesh’s apparels.

$2.76b solar energy plan awaits approval of PM

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$2.76b solar energy plan awaits approval of PM

A file photo shows solar panels on the Bangladesh Bank premises. The Power Division is likely to finalise a $2.76-billion plan to generate 500MW of solar power by 2015 through both commercial and social projects. — Focusbangla photo

Manjurul Ahsan

The Power Division is likely to finalise a $2.76b plan to generate 500 mega watts of solar power by 2015 through both commercial and social projects.

The plan will be placed before prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who is also the minister for power, energy and mineral resources, for her approval, said a Power Division official.

He said, ‘Since the Asian Development Bank has back-tracked on its plan for funding the projects through a combination of grants and soft loans, the government will now implement the projects involving different funding agencies and routes including private entrepreneurs.’

According to the plan, around $1.77b investment will be required for generating 340 MW power in commercial projects and $1.0b will be required for generating 160 MW in social projects.

The commercial ventures involve solar plants which will provide 150 MW of power for irrigation, solar parks which will supply 145 MW of power to the national grid, and a solar power mini grid which will provide 25 MW of power to rural consumers.

In addition, 30 MW will be generated in commercial and residential buildings and industries.

The official said that the government would need to provide a huge amount in subsidy, even more than what is given in power purchase from diesel-run rental plants for the national grid.

In the social projects, a total of 50 MW of power will be generated in the rural health centres by the health ministry, 40 MW will be generated in remote educational institutions by the education ministry, 41 MW of power in government offices by the public works department, 12 MW of power in religious establishments by the religious affairs ministry, 10 MW of power at remote railway stations by the railway department and seven MW of power at union information centres under the local government division.

The government will also give support to the implementing agencies — both in the public and private sectors – by providing fiscal incentives for project investors and operators, exempting certain technology and equipment from import duty, land acquisition and other institutional support, the official said.

The government so far has been able to generate 55 MW of non-grid solar based power.

Another 35 MW of non-grid solar based power generation plants are in the pipeline for implementation, it was learnt.

Pran makes it big in dairy business

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Pran makes it big in dairy business

Top Right: A woman sells milk to a representative of Pran, the country's largest agro-processor. Bottom: A man offloads milk containers from a small truck at Pran's milk collection centre in Pabna. Photo: PRAN

Sohel Parvez

MOHAMMAD Noufel Ali pours five litres of milk into a cooling tank and gives his passbook to a young man who records purchases from milkmen in Pabna. Noufel, shrouded in a towel against the morning cold, comes out to a small yard, clearing the way for his elderly neighbour Iman Paramanik.

Paramanik also came to deliver milk to the collection centre set up by the country’s largest agro-processor Pran in Dodalia village in Chatmohar upazila in the district. It is one of the 20 centres in 20 villages in the upazila.

“The centre has saved my working hours. Now I do not need to wait hours at the market to get a buyer,” said Noufel who rears two milk-cows.

“I can come anytime of the day to deliver milk and get payment each weekend,” said the 50-year Noufel, from village Dodalia in Chatmohar upazila of Pabna, 235 kms north of the capital Dhaka.

Every morning and afternoon, Noufel, Paramanik, Zahidul and other farmers or their family members come to the centre to deliver milk, contrary to their tradition of going to the nearby markets or depending on middlemen called Ghosh to sell their produce.

This new trend of directly selling to a chilling centre has gained popularity over the past year after Pran established 20 chilling centres in 20 villages of the upazila with a vision to revolutionise milk production in an initiative that Bangladesh sees for the first time.

Dubbed as Pran Dairy Hub, the initiative of setting up collection points to encourage cattle farming and boost milk output has already started bearing fruit.

Milk collection by Pran has doubled in just one year. Establishment of chilling centres by the processor near the farmers has also created a new zeal for cattle farming.

Many farmers have started buying cows and the existing producers seem keen to expand.

Paramanik and Zahidul signed up in cattle farming after Pran set up collection centres in their village.

Ishak of nearby Bhadra area, increased the size of his farm, while another farmer Mohammad Asaduzzaman changed his decision to quit farming.

“I stopped selling cows after Pran set up a collection centre in our village. We used to sell milk to middlemen who gave us Tk 18-20 a litre. But my income from the similar volume of milk has more than doubled,” said a 25-year old Asaduzzaman who owns 10 cows.

He said he now earns Tk 17,000 a week by selling milk directly to the collection centre of Pran at Bhadra.

“I have taken farming as permanent business after Pran set up collection centres,” he said.

This timely initiative of Pran comes when Bangladesh suffers from a shortfall of domestic milk production due to low productivity per cow of 200-250 litres during a 10-month lactation period.

Industry analysts linked low milk yield to a slow pace in replacement of local cows with the genetically improved ones, a lack of breeding and veterinary services and inadequate investment in feed and fodder development.

In the past decade, production of milk has increased gradually every year because of efforts of farmers and processors to feed the growing demand for milk thanks to economic growth and rise in people’s per capita income.

During fiscal 2009-10, domestic production of milk grew 32 percent to 2.36 million tonnes (2,360 million litres) from 1.78 million tonnes in 2001-02, according to Department of Livestock Services (DLS).

However, a huge deficit still forces Bangladesh to import thousands of tonnes of milk powder every year.

In the fiscal 2009-10, total milk shortfall was 10.96 million tonnes, according to DLS.

To reduce the deficit in local milk production, Pran began to organise farmers and set up collection centres in villages of Chatmohar in the middle of last year under its initiative of establishing dairy hubs.

DeLaval and Tetra Pak, which have technical know how and technology on milk production and processing, extended support to Pran.

In line with the target, the processor started providing various extension services to farmers including veterinary care, animal husbandry, dairy housing, quality feed and breed improvement through artificial insemination (AI).

Pran workers give tips to farmers on better housing and feeding management of cows free of cost. It includes keeping cows untied, ensuring light and passage of wind through the shed, always keeping the water jar full to allow cows a drink anytime.

Other services include de-worming and periodical vaccination by maintaining health cards for each cow in its intervention area.

To support farmers to get proper feed for cows, Pran also provides balanced feed prepared at its factory at cost price along with seeds of fodder and training to prepare silage to feed cattle in rainy days.

By importing semen from the US, it also gives AI services to farmers at cost price with the aim to improve existing breeds of cows to scale up milk yield.

In addition, establishment of chilling centres at farmers’ doorsteps has cut dominance of middlemen in milk collection allowing producers to get better prices.

Pran’s support has helped boost farmers’ income by increasing milk production per cow and thus boosted its milk collection from the area to 17,000 litres daily from 8,000 litres before.

With the successes at Chatmohar, Pran now plans to set up similar dairy hubs all over the country with the vision of making Bangladesh a milk surplus country by 2020.

By that year, Pran, which now processes 100,000 litres of milk daily, wants to establish 60 dairy hubs. A second hub has already been set up at Gurudaspur of Natore, another northern district.

The third and fourth are likely to be set up in Rangpur and Sirajganj.

All the hubs will see replication of Chatmohar model where full time veterinary doctors, extension workers along with field supervisors and 20 chilling centres will be accessible by local dairy farmers.

“Here is the sector in Bangladesh which is waiting to be exploited. The dairy sector has immense potential here, but it still remains neglected,” said Chief Executive Officer of Pran-RFL Group Amjad Khan Chowdhury.

Sayef Nasir, country director of Tetra Pak, said the initiative of developing dairy hub would help reduce Bangladesh’s milk import dependence.

“It is also important from the viewpoint of rising prices of milk globally. Population growth and increased consumption in China is a factor behind the spike in prices of milk,” he said.

Nasir said the way forward for Bangladesh is to boost milk output through various efforts including upgrading local breeds of cows with foreign breeds that have higher milk productivity.

“Dairy development has got longer term and wider implications from the perspective of poverty reduction and job creation in the country,” he added.

That is what Pran chief Amjad Chowdhury aims to do.

“The only answer to lift people out of poverty is job. Creating jobs in urban areas is expensive due to higher living cost. Cattle farming can help create more jobs in rural areas and reduce pressure of jobseekers in urban areas,” he said.

“If people get fair price of their produce, they will be better off,” Chowdhury said.

The Pran-RFL Group employs over 30,000 people.

“We want farmers to treat dairy as business instead of treating farming as usual,” said Chowdhury.

He said the establishment of dairy hubs, where Pran gives intensive focus, will allow the processor to get more milk.

But the benefits of increased milk production and expansion of cattle farming will go beyond Pran and the whole country will be benefited, observed Chowdhury.

“Cattle farming also offers scope of producing biogas and bio-fertiliser. From cow dung, skin and hide to meat all are useful which makes dairy a profitable investment.”

Chowdhury said Pran invests crores of taka in establishing dairy hubs as part of its responsibility to the nation.

“Yes, it (dairy hub) is going to take my money. But once it starts, it will fly,” said Chowdhury, who dreams of turning Bangladesh into a milk surplus country.

“This sector is highly neglected, although its development is very much needed for Bangladesh. If I can contribute to developing the domestic dairy sector, it will be my ultimate satisfaction,” Chowdhury said.

150, 000 biogas plants in rural areas by 2016

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150, 000 biogas plants in rural areas by 2016

DHAKA, Dec 17 (BSS) – The country is expected to see a surge of biogas plants in next five years as initiatives have been taken to set up 150,000 such plants in rural households by 2016, promoters of renewable energy said today.

“We have set a target to establish a million units of biogas plants in 15 countries of Asia, where Bangladesh would set up 150,000 plants in rural areas by 2016,” Dr Govind Raj Pokharel, senior advisor for renewable energy of the Netherlands Development Organization (SNV), told journalists at a press conference here.

Dr Govind Raj said south Asia has a big prospect to popularize biogas, a gas generated from organic substances through decomposition under aerobic conditions, and ensure a better living standard of the rural households. He said the biogas plants could be set up at any households who generate 30kg of cow dung or poultry excreta everyday.

Sources with the Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL), which has made an arrangement with German KFW and Dutch SNV to set up more biogas plants across the country, said Bangladesh has now an estimated 50,000 biogas plants, much of which had gone dysfunctional at the beginning. But the plants that have been set up later have shown an efficiency of 85 percent.

In initial survey of IDCOL show that biogas plants could be set up among two million rural households and meet their long demand for clean energy for domestic uses-cooking and lighting. But aspects like lack of proper motivation, appropriate technology, rising cost for plants as well as availability of cow-dung and poultry excreta have been barring the sector to flourish at mass scale.

IDCOL’s Director SM Formanul Islam said the biogas plants could be a great solution for those rural households, who want to cook food by clean energy sources and reduce indoor pollutions.

He said a biogas plant now costs over Taka 35,000, but the costs could be recovered in three years.

The concept of biogas has been pioneered by Bangladesh Center for Science and Industrial Research (BCSIR) in early eighties and they set up bulk of the biogas plants across Bangladesh. But much of the plants could not sustain due to lack of proper supervision and maintenance. A new initiative has been taken to popularize the system through technical and cash incentives.

 

More information: http://www.idcol.org/energyProject.php

IDCOL to install 1.5 lakh biogas plants

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IDCOL to install 1.5 lakh biogas plants
Biogas week begins with a call for clean fuel

IDCOL installing a biogas plant. Source: http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=156458

Star Business Report

The Infrastructure Development Company Ltd (IDCOL) will set up 1.5 lakh biogas plants by 2016 to supply clean fuel across the rural homestead of Bangladesh, said a senior official of the company yesterday.

Around 20,000 plants have so far been set up, said SM Formanul Islam, director (legal) of the company.

The country has a prospect to install around 20 lakh biogas plants thanks to the availability of cow dung and favourable weather, he added.

Islam spoke at a press conference on Biogas Week 2011 at Dhaka Reporters Unity to highlight the significance of the week.

The non-bank financial company will install the biogas plants though its partner organisations under the National Domestic Biogas and Manure Programme, he said.

Only 3 percent of the population, primarily based in urban area, uses natural gas delivered by pipeline for cooking. But 70 percent of the rural population does not have access to piped gas, said Islam.

Biogas plant can fulfill this gap as a substitute fuel as the plant does not need to use expensive kerosene, firewood and straw for cooking, said Nazmul Haque Faisal, senior programme manager.

He said the plant requires cow dung and chicken excrement to produce energy. A typical biogas plant can be used for more than 30 years and requires only 200 square feet area.

A homestead biogas plant costs around Tk 30,000 to Tk 35,000 where IDCOL provides Tk 9,000 as a start-up subsidy, Faisal added.

With progress, IDCOL lends around Tk 14,000 to Tk 16,000 to its partner organisations, and the plant owner can pay the cost of the plant in instalments at Tk 1,100 per month, he said.

A regular sized biogas plant requires 30 kg cow dung a day, said Islam.

The biogas residue can also be used as organic fertiliser, as it is a high category manure and good for cultivable lands and fish-growing ponds, said Islam.

A plant can produce around six tonnes of organic fertiliser in a year, he added.

The state-owned company is currently running a nationwide weeklong programme to raise awareness about the benefits of manure as fertiliser and alternative sources of clean fuel.

At present, 30 non-government organisations are working with IDCOL to set up and popularise biogas across the country. International NGO SNV-Netherlands Development Organisation and the German government’s development agency KFW are jointly financing the project.

Remittances from S Arabia hits $ 1371.34m in July-Nov

http://www.newstoday.com.bd/index.php?option=details&news_id=47390&date=2011-12-19

Remittances from S Arabia hits $ 1371.34m in July-Nov

Bangladesh fetched its highest remittance of US$ 1371.34 million from Saudi Arabia during July-November period of the current fiscal (2011-12), reports UNB.

The statistics available from Bangladesh Bank showed that remittance from Bangladeshi wage earners abroad totaled $ 4927.74 million during the July-November period, a growth of 7.56 per cent over the $4581.43 million of the corresponding period in the last fiscal (2010-11).

Overseas remittance from the wage earners showed a positive trend in November this fiscal with $ 1591.24 million, registering 2.40 per cent growth over $ 1553.88 million during the same month of last fiscal.

The central bank data showed the second highest remittance for the July-November period as $ 897.01 million from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), followed by $ 604.51 million from USA, $ 497.62 million from Kuwait and $391.23 million from the UK.

Besides, remittance earnings for the five-month period totaled $314.15 million from Malaysia, $125.30 million from Italy, $ 146.00 million from Oman, $ 131.26 million from Qatar, $92.01 million from Singapore and $97.09 million from Bahrain.

After maintaining a steady growth over the years, Bangladesh’s remittance earnings from the Middle-East (M-E) countries dropped during the last fiscal, amid political unrest there and a freeze on manpower import.

A total of $7215.53 million in remittances was sent home by Bangladeshi workers from the eight M-E countries in the last fiscal (2010-11), recording slight fall of $ 7.09 million over $7222.62 million during the corresponding period in the previous fiscal (2009-10).

Bangladesh received $ 11650.32 million from the wage earners’ remittance in the last fiscal, registering a growth of 6.3 per cent. It received $ 10987.4 million in remittance in the previous fiscal (2009-10).

The central bank figures showed that during the last fiscal (2010-11), Bangladesh received the highest remittance of $ 3290.03 million from Saudi Arabia, followed by $ 2002.63 million from UAE, $ 1075.75 million from Kuwait, $ 334.31 million from Oman, $ 319.36 million from Qatar, $ 185.93 million from Bahrain, and $ 5.20 million from Libya.

Presently, about 70 lakh Bangladeshis are working in different countries of the world – most them employed in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Libya, Malaysia, Singapore, UK and USA.

Victory Day concert highlights local products

http://www.newstoday.com.bd/index.php?option=details&news_id=47392&date=2011-12-19

Victory Day concert highlights local products
News Report

A grand concert, Walton Victory Festival Mega Concert, was held at Birshrestha Mostafa Kamal Stadium at Kamalapur in the city on Friday highlighting local industries and products.

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Victory Day, Walton organised the concert in association with Ministry of Liberation War, Onemore Zero Communications and Channel I.

The six-hour concert, which was open to all, enthralled the audience with both patriotic and popular numbers by leading singers and bands of the country.

Renowned singers Runa Laila, Sabina Yasmin, Shuvro Dev, Hasan, Kaniz Suborna, Momtaz, Pothik Nobi, Hyder Hossain, Kanak Chapa, Aiub Bachchu, Subir Nandi, Biplob, Monir Khan, Fuad and Ebrar Tipu performed at the concert. Musical bands Shurna, Miles and Sheronamhin also performed at the concert.

All the performers presented at least one patriotic number each along with their trendy tracks. Some private television channels will telecast the programme next Friday considering the request of public.

At the programme a documentary film was displayed highlighting the history and potentiality of local industries and products. It also highlighted the glorious history of Bangladesh cricket.

Chairman of Walton Megashop Mizanur Rahman presented a crest to Chairman of Bangladesh Cricket Board AHM Mostafa Kamal.

In his speech, Mizanur Rahman said: “In 40 years, Bangladesh has made huge success in different sectors including garments, shipbuilding, pharmaceuticals, cement and real estate”. Bangladesh is doing well in electronics and automobile. Heavy and high-tech factories have been established in the country. Walton Hi-tech Industries set up in Gazipur is manufacturing world standard and qualitative products. Walton brand fridge, television, motorcycle, air-conditioner and other products are being exported to different countries including developed ones in Europe, he said.

“It is a matter of pride for us that Walton is now not only a product name rather that it has become a brand. Different products written ‘Made in Bangladesh’ are building country’s good image”, Mizanur Rahman said.

Walton Boishakhi Star has been introduced in a bid to seek several brand ambassadors among the local showbiz stars. In future, Walton also will take different initiatives to flourish local culture and promote local artistes, he also said.

FBCCI-SME fair begins in city Dec 20

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FBCCI-SME fair begins in city Dec 20

DHAKA, Dec 17 (BSS) – The fifth FBCCI-SME fair 2011 will begin in the city on December 20 with a slogan-”SMEs and the Nation Growing Together”.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the five-day-long fair at 10am on December 20 at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC), said FBCCI president A K Azad at a press conference here today.

President Mohammad Zillur Rahman is expected to distribute FBCCI-SME award at 6pm on December 23 at BICC, he added.

There will be 131 stalls and 19 pavilions in the fair that will remain open from 10am to 8pm upto December 24, said the president of Federation of Bangladesh Cnambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI).

Sixty-four SME entrepreneur organisations and 34 banks, insurances and financial institutions are taking part in the fair. The participating SME units include plastic, furniture, steel-furniture, textile, handicraft, jute products, biscuits, ceramics, saree, lungi, generator, cable, leather and leather products and herbal.

Addressing the press conference the FBCCI president urged the government not to borrow more from banking system, saying that such a borrowing by public sector would reduce credit flow to private sector in future.

Suggesting the government to cut subsidy expenditures and re- arrange budgetary allocations to reduce bank borrowing, the apex body president said the government has already borrowed Tk 20,000 crore and placed proposals for borrowing 20,000 crore more.

Azad said the country has around 1.5 lakh small and 27,000 medium enterprises that have employed over 1.5 million people and this sector’s contribution to the national economy is about 25 per cent.

He said the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) organised the first SME fair in 2002 with an objective of expansion of the sector and introducing the products of this potential sector in home and abroad.

Azad said distribution of FBCCI-SME Award is an important part of the SME fair. Three awards will be given in the categories of medium enterprises and small and cottage industries, he said, adding that one Best SME Facilitator Award will be given for playing outstanding role in SME development category.

A six-member jury board comprising businessmen, journalists and researchers has been formed for selection of SMEs for the awards, he added.

Three seminars will be held at the BICC’s media centre during the fair. Fist seminar on Infrastructure Development and Sectoral Zones for SMEs in Bangladesh will be held at 11.30am on December 21, the second one on Women Entrepreneurs in SMEs: Bangladesh Perspective at 2.30pm on December 23 while the third seminar on Access to Finance and Technological Upgradation for SMEs: Bangladesh Perspective at 2.30pm on December 23.

Media partners of the fair the Daily Samakal and the Financial Express will publish special supplement on opening day of the event.

Agriculturist rewarded in Malaysia

http://newagebd.com/newspaper1/business/43821.html

Agriculturist rewarded in Malaysia

Prof. Dr. Md. Alimul Islam. Source: http://www.ums.edu.my/webv3/appl/index.php?mod=Publication&action=staffview&sek=spl&id=3045

Staff Correspondent

FnF Pharmaceuticals Ltd consultant Md Alimul Islam received Bio Innovation Award 2011 for his contribution to the field of medical science.

He received the gold medal at an international exhibition on research and innovation at Kuala Lumpur recently.

Malaysia’s ministry of science, technology and innovations and ministry of education jointly organised the function.

A total of 245 stalls from different industries, research and educational institutions from different countries participated in the exhibition with their innovative and marketable products.

Alimul is a professor of microbiology and hygiene department of Bangladesh Agricultural University in Mymensingh. He is now serving at the school of sustainable agriculture, University Malaysia Sabah, as professor.

FnF pharma is the only private sector vaccine manufacturing industry in the poultry sector of Bangladesh.

Manpower export rises by 40pc

http://newagebd.com/newspaper1/business/43721.html

Manpower export rises by 40pc
Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha . Dhaka

The country has witnessed a 40 per cent growth in overseas labour markets as about 5.5 lakh local workers went abroad with employment this year compared with 3.9 lakh in 2010.

‘Till today this year around 5.5 lakh workers went abroad that might be nearly six lakh by the last two weeks of the month,’ expatriate welfare and overseas employment secretary Zafar Ahmed Khan told a news conference at the National Press Club on the eve of International Migrants Day.

He said the reason behind the growth was that the government had put its sincere efforts in finding new destinations as well as unlocking the closed overseas labour markets.

‘We have able to start the process of legalising our workers in Malaysia, to unlock Korean market as well as to send workers to some new countries like Japan, Lebanon and Mauritius this year,’ he said.

Admitting that the cost of migration from Bangladesh is comparatively higher than the neighbouring countries, the secretary said they were working with all stakeholders for bringing down the migration cost.

A ministerial committee is working to declare the ceiling of maximum migration cost in a way so that Bangladeshi workers could get back their migration expenses with their first three months salaries in the foreign lands.

‘After declaration of maximum migration cost from the government, no manpower recruiting agency can export workers beyond the government fixed rate,’ he said.

He said the government had established Expatriate Welfare Bank in a mission to finance as well as to check harassment of both intended and working Bangladeshi overseas workers.

The bank, marked as one of the major success of the present government in ensuring welfare of the expatriates, provides loans to the intending overseas workers on the basis of mortgage against job.

Khan said the government had able to bring back 38,000 Bangladeshi workers from war torn Libya in shortest possible time and provided them Tk 50,000 for rehabilitating.

Bangladesh observes International Migrants Day as elsewhere in the world today with the call for ensuring save migration for economic development.

The government has chalked a two-day programme in the capital, all districts and upazilas as well as all foreign missions to observe the day.

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to inaugurate the national programme marking the day at Bangabandhu International conference Centre in the capital at 10:00am.

Expatriate welfare and overseas employment minister Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain will chair the inaugural session while foreign minister Dipu Moni will speak as special guest.

A job fair participating by some foreign employers and local recruiting agencies would be held at the venues. Apart from the recruiting agencies, different migration right protection and social welfare organisations will also display their services at the fair to create awareness on safe migration.

Earlier, a colourful rally will be brought out from the south corner of Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban leading 8:00am.

On December 4, 2000, the UN General Assembly, taking into account the large and increasing number of migrants in the world, proclaimed December 18 as the International Migrants Day.

Myanmar to import six more items

http://www.theindependentbd.com/business/others/85362-myanmar-to-import-six-more-items.html

Myanmar to import six more items
Author / Source : BSS

COX’S BAZAR, Dec 18:  Myanmar has added six Bangladeshi items to its import list.

The decision came from a meeting of the joint working group of Bangladesh and Myanmar Sunday.

The six items are cement, medicine, biscuit, iron, tin and soft drink. Additional divisional commissioner of Cox’s Bazar Nurul Alam Nizami, who led the 15-member home delegation to the meeting, told journalists that the businessmen from Myanmar also expressed their interest in importing more apparel items from Bangladesh.

U Tin, deputy director of Myanmar Border Trade, led a 15- member delegation to the meeting, held at the deputy commissioner’s office in the tourist town.

He said the Bangladeshi businessmen urged the Myanmar authorities to ease the process for importing timber, wood and fish from that country.The official said the Myanmar also agreed to allow Bangladeshi businessmen use their cell phones in Mong Du and Akyab in Myanmar. The next meeting of the working group will be held on February 9 this year.

Digital library at universities soon

http://www1.bssnews.net/newsDetails.php?cat=10&id=215246&date=2011-12-18

Digital library at universities soon

DHAKA, Dec 18 (BSS) – The universities will soon enjoy digital library facilities, University Grants Commission (UGC) sources said today.

The decision was disclosed at a coordination meeting of Digital Library Consortium held at the UGC today with UGC Member Professor Dr M Muhibur Rahman in the chair.

The formation of the consortium is expected to bring qualitative changes with efficient access to wide ranging digital resources and services in the areas of quality enhancement of higher education in Bangladesh.

A digital library is system where collections are stored in digital formats (as opposed to print, microform, or other media) and is accessible through computers. The digital content may be stored locally, or accessed remotely via computer networks.

A number of international publishers are now offering trial access to their resources for the public and private universities in Bangladesh. During the trial period, the UGC will monitor and evaluate the usage of such resources by the universities.

UGC commissioned an investment study on digital library under Higher Education Quality Enhancement Project (HEQEP). The study has assessed the extent and need for electronic journals, books, peer-reviewed literature and other publications by the teachers and students.

It also reviewed the existing IT infrastructure and connectivity in the universities.

2,000 hectares to be brought under wheat cultivation in Joypurhat

http://www1.bssnews.net/newsDetails.php?cat=4&id=215000&date=2011-12-17

2,000 hectares to be brought under wheat cultivation in Joypurhat

JOYPURHAT, 17 Dec (BSS) – The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) has set a target of producing 5,000 tonnes of wheat in all five upazilas of the district during the current rabi season.

DAE sources said a total of 2000 hectares of land will be brought under wheat cultivation and farmers have started sowing wheat seeds on their lands after harvesting T-aman, winter vegetables and other crops.

The DAE and BADC are distributing quality seeds and the commercial banks and NGOs are providing loans among the poor and marginal Farmers of the district.

DAE sources said 500 hectares of land would be brought under wheat farming in Sadar upazila, 1200 hectares in Panchbibi, 200 hectares in Akkelpur, 50 hectares in Khethlal and 50 hectares in Kalai upazila in the district.

12 factories adopt Cleaner Production

http://www.theindependentbd.com/business/finance/85241-12-factories-adopt-cleaner-production.html

12 factories adopt Cleaner Production
New move on rectification of inefficient industries for a competitive tomorrow
Author / Source : Nilufer Zahan- Ara Ferdous

DHAKA, Dec 17: International Finance Corporation(IFC), in partnership with Solidaridad, a Dutch nongovernmental organisation, has launched Cleaner Production (CP) in Bangladesh. They, along with technical partners Adroit Environment Consultants Ltd (AECL) and Reed Consulting (Bangladesh) Ltd and marketing partner Brandzeal Consultancy, have come together offering a comprehensive method to achieve higher levels of resource efficiency.

Cleaner Production is an initiative to help industries identify and rectify inefficiencies so that their operations become more streamlined, more cost-efficient and more environment-friendly in future.

CP is a five-step process, starting with a baseline assessment to identify each individual factory’s cost-cutting opportunities. Then, together with the firm, the necessary steps are implemented. This is followed by formation of user groups – a common platform for CP users to share their challenges and learning — and discuss potential improvements. Finally, an evaluation of the process depicts just how effectively CP has cut costs.

What makes CP a practical solution is its non-disruptive nature. Changes can be brought about with minimal down time for machinery. For instance, installation of an economiser (an equipment for boiler function) can be carried out within three to four days. The average wet processing factory has a total of around twenty off days in a year, so changes such as these can be easily incorporated without incurring additional down time.

Secondly, CP is not a big investment. Once the baseline assessment is done, the factory may choose to adopt Cleaner Production bit by bit, and monitor how cost effective their investments are. A firm may choose to implement all the recommended components over a span of several months or even a few years. However, most components of CP have very short payback periods, and cost savings occur on a continuous basis.

To test its effectiveness, CP’s one-year pilot programme was launched in August 2010 with 12 textiles processing firms. Data from the pilot programme of CP, launched in December 2010 with twelve factories of varying production capacities, showed that it was possible to achieve cost savings of approximately US $800,000 over one year by these twelve firms. Assuming similar distribution of factory and production sizes across the industry, adoption of CP by 50 per cent of the industrial units, which comprises of 1700 firms, can yield cost savings of approximately US $ 680 million. These are results achievable by just the textiles processing sector. While CP is being presently targeted towards only the textile industry, it can be implemented in all manufacturing industries of the country.

Even at individual levels, CP ensures very quick results in terms of resource efficiency. “When we compared 2010 with 2011 data,” says Md. Zahid Ullah, deputy general manager of corporate affairs at DBL Group, “we saw that our gas consumption reduced by around 2per cent, electricity consumption by around 14 per cent and water consumption was down by around 20per cent, in terms of per kg of production. The minimum average benefit here for us per year is US $175,000 – $200,000.”

“At the very beginning our water consumption was 300 litres per kg of fabrics,” says AKM Mohsin Ahmed, general manager Dyeing), Knit Concern Ltd. “After CP, our water consumption has gone down to 100 to 120 litres per kg.”

CP is not a brand new concept any more. China has been practicing Cleaner Production for over a decade, and they are by far the market leader in the apparels sector.

Bangladesh has demonstrated laudable competitiveness to become the world’s second largest knitwear exporter. Yet, China remains at a different league altogether. Compared to China’s $120 billion total textile export in 2009, Bangladesh exported $15.56 billion worth of textiles. Competing with such a global giant requires foresight – to act before it is made compulsory by the regulatory body, and to adopt innovative technologies that turn possible challenges into cost-saving opportunities.

Bangladesh’s companies who have adopted the Cleaner Production concept include Comptex BD Ltd  of Robintex Group, Hamza Textiles Ltd of DBL Group, Knit Concern Ltd, Fakir Knitwear  Ltd, Apparel Wet Processing Ltd of ABA Group, Interstoff Apparels Ltd, Liberty Knitwear Ltd of  Micro Fibre Group Utah Knitting & Dyeing Ltd, SF Washing, Multi-fabs Ltd, Cosmopolitan Industries Ltd and Tarasima Apparels Ltd.