19 organisations receive President’s Award for Industrial Development 2018

Nineteen industrial organisations were officially awarded the President's Award for Industrial Development 2018 at a programme in the capital on Monday.

Among them, four in the large industry category, four in the medium industry category, three in the small industry category, three in the micro-industry category, three in the cottage industry category, and two in the high tech industry category were awarded on Monday, read a press release.

Speaking as the chief guest, Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun MP said, "The initiative was taken to formulate the National Industrial Policy 2021 considering the changed situation of the world economy, SDG 2030 and Vision 2041. To this end, the Ministry of Industries has already started working on formulating a new industrial policy with the stakeholders concerned."

He added that a planned and timely roadmap is being prepared for the development of the light engineering industry. Additionally, an initiative to establish a world-class industrial database and an industrial university has been taken. He hopes Bangladesh will become an industrialised nation, ahead of schedule, by continuing its ongoing journey of development in the industrial sector.

The minister further said, "Under the leadership of the prime minister, the present Bangladesh is the most progressive country in South Asia. Today's Bangladesh has been able to prove how to reach the golden port of success by overcoming hundreds of adversities."

State Minister for Industries Kamal Ahmed Majumder, who was present as a special guest, called upon traders to stop creating syndicates and artificial crises to raise commodity prices.

He said there is an adequate supply of all kinds of daily necessities, so there is no reason to raise prices. 

He also advised the awardees to expand the export market of domestic products by ensuring the quality of the products.

He recommended that entrepreneurs use the funds of the incentives package, announced by the prime minister, to introduce new technologies in the work environment as well as development, production and management activities of their organisations.

In his speech as a special guest, Sheikh Fazle Fahim, the president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce & Industries, said there is a need to change the traditional mindset of banks to ensure adequate credit facilities for small and medium enterprises.

Industries Secretary KM Ali Azam presided over the function.

Ali Azam said, "Bangabandhu was the first to take the initiative to provide policy assistance to the industrial sector by formulating an industrial investment policy in 1973. According to Vision 2041, the Ministry of Industry has the greatest responsibility to build an industrialised and developed Bangladesh." 

He mentioned that the Ministry of Industries is making sincere efforts to fulfil this responsibility.

Mubina Asaf, Head of Legal External Affairs, British American Tobacco Bangladesh, said such initiatives by the government will inspire private sector entrepreneurs to play a significant role in making Bangladesh a middle-income country.

Begum Shahida Parveen, the founder of Trim Tex Bangladesh, said, "If we can work together, the country's economy will turn around."

British American Tobacco Bangladesh, Incepta Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Energypac Engineering Limited and Olympic Industries Ltd won awards in the large industry category.

In the medium industry category, Tafrid Cotton Mills Ltd, Sheltech Technology Ltd, Auko-tex Ltd and Envoy Fashion Ltd won the award.

Concept Knitting Limited, APS Design Works Ltd and Summit Oil and Shipping Company won the award in the small industry category.

In the micro-industry category, Trim Tex Bangladesh, Moscow Overseas Limited and Crimson Rosella Seafood Ltd bagged the award.

In the cottage industry category, the award was given to Classical Handmade Products BD, Intelligent Card Lee and Rupkatha Jubo O Mohila Unnayan Sangstha.

Service Engine Ltd and Metatude Asia Ltd won the award in the high-tech industry category.