Look for new markets for Bangladesh's products: PM Hasina at DITF opening

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday asked the exporters to be more careful in bringing back the money, which is used for export purposes, and maintain a balance in import and export.

"We need to urgently maintain a balance in import and export. I will urge everyone to be more careful about that purpose," she said.

The prime minister said this while inaugurating the month-long 28th edition of the Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF) at the Bangabandhu Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Centre (BBCFEC) at Purbachal.

She also put emphasis on searching for new markets and products for the export basket to reduce dependency on a handful of destinations.

"For that, we need to look for new products, new destinations and markets abroad. We should not be dependent on one or two markets worldwide," she said.

In this connection, she mentioned that Bangladesh has to overcome various types of hurdles and barriers to send its export items worldwide.

Hasina, also chief of the ruling Awami League, said that in its manifesto for January 7 election the Awami League projected export earnings at $150 billion by 2030.

"But for that, we have to catch new markets, and our time is short. Above all, if we have fixed a target it will be easy to attain the target. We want to work this way," she said.

State Minister for Commerce Ahsanul Islam, Commerce Secretary Tapan Kanti Ghosh President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Mahbubul Alam and vice-chairman of the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) AHM Ahsan also spoke at the programme.

From the inaugural programme, the prime minister also declared Handicrafts Products as the product of 2024.

A documentary on the export trading of the country was screened on the programme.