Take initiative to uphold image of country: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday urged the country's businessmen to put concentration on research for product diversification and own branding to boost export and business growth.

“I called upon businessmen that you have to take the initiative to uphold the image of your own country side by side with keeping your market afloat and expand by maintaining quality of your products,” she said.

The premier came up with the she told the inaugural ceremony of the month-long Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF)-2022 at Bangabandhu Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Centre (BBCFEC) at Purbachal, a new city in the outskirts of the capital.

Joining virtually at the inauguration ceremony of the 26th edition of the trade fair from her official residence Ganabhaban, she said research is needed for expansion of trade and commerce to understand and maintain the product demand and its quality.

She said, industry owners and exporters should put their focus on this issue to boost export.

Referring to the country's up-gradation as a developing nation, Sheikh Hasina said that there is still long way to go to fulfil the dream of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the government is working relentlessly to materialize it.

To this end, she said that foreign ministry and all the high commissions, embassies and missions abroad have already been directed to work and go ahead following the strategy that "our present diplomacy will be economic diplomacy".

She continued that the government has already conducted feasibility studies on 23 countries for bilateral and regional trade agreements, free trade agreement and comprehensive economic agreement.

“We are working and taking preparation to tackle any challenges as a developing nation,” she added.

With Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi, MP, in the chair, Export Promotion Bureau Vice Chairman and CEO AHM Ahsan gave the welcome address. Commerce Ministry's Senior Secretary Tapan Kanti Ghosh and FBCCI President Md Jashim Uddin also spoke.

At the outset of the ceremony, an audio-visual highlighting the development activities of the present government was screened.

The prime minister, at the function, also declared "ICT Products and Services" as the "Product of the Year" for 2022 to encourage exports in accordance with the export policy.

It was not possible to arrange the DITF in the last year due to Covid-19 pandemic, but now the trade fair is being taken place at its permanent venue (BBCFEC) for the first time.

This year, the fair has been arranged keeping in mind the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the golden jubilee of the country's independence and the development activities of the government.