Bangladesh Plastic Goods Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BPGMEA) and The British Standards Institution (BSI) jointly organized a seminar on “CE to Enhance the Export Possibilities of Plastic Goods” on March 19 at 10:30 am at the BPGMEA conference room in Paltan Tower, Dhaka. The Seminar aims to address crucial issues and strategies for Bangladesh to Export to UK and Europe of plastic products.
Keynote Paper was presented by Dr. Jane Gilbert, Circular Economy Expert, and British Standards Institution (BSI). BPGMEA President Mr. Shamim Ahmed presided over the said seminar and delivered the welcome address. Mr. Syed Anwar Hossain, Project Manager UK-Bangladesh Standards Partnership Initiative gave a presentation on Standards Partnership Bangladesh. BPGMEA Senior Vice President Mr. K M Iqbal Hossain gave the closing speech. The seminar was conducted by BPGMEA Secretary General Mr. Narayan Chandra Dey.
Mr. Md. Salim Ullah, Senior Assistant Secretary, Ministry of Industries, Mr. Abdur Rahman, Joint Secretary (EC4J), Ministry of Commerce, Mr. Anwar Hossain, Bengal Group of Industries, Mr. Salahuddin Shikder, PRAN-RFL Group, BPGMEA Director and Managing Director of BPCL Mr. Khadem Mahmood Yusuf, BSTI Director Ms. Zohra Sikder, Mr. Mustain Billah from EC4J, Mr. S M Arafat from UNIDO participated in the open discussion.
Apart from this, experts in related fields, top leaders of various BPGMEA member organizations, and important members participated in this seminar.
Dr. Jane Gilbert, Circular Economy Expert, British Standards Institution (BSI) cited in her keynote paper that to promote national action plan on Circular Economy, needed to achieve the sustainable development goals, work towards for the prevention, reduction and elimination of plastic pollution; to promote sustainable production and consumption of plastics through product design and environmentally sound waste management, including through resource efficiency and circular economy approaches. We need a systemic transformation to achieve the transition to a circular economy, she added. She also said, the global economy is now only 7.2% circular; and it’s getting worse year on year-driven by rising material extraction and use. The plastic industry shows promise with huge growth potential in the domestic market and opportunity to grab a share in the global market. She also said that after LDC Graduation in the 2026 Bangladesh will have to adopt international standard for goods & services to enhance export.
BPGMEA President Mr. Shamim Ahmed said in his welcome speech that as the country develops, the use of plastic will increase. To reduce the use of plastic we need to innovate and on the other hand we need to manage plastic properly. He also said that investment and infrastructural development is required for waste management. He said, we are implementing circular economy in the country. Currently 37 percent of mismanaged plastic is being recycled in Bangladesh. The re-cycling process will be strengthened further. In expanding the circular economy, he emphasized increasing competition, taking new market opportunities, expanding products, security of resource sources, increasing reputation.
The experts at the seminar gave valuable insights into the challenges facing Bangladesh and the steps needed to facilitate their exports. These include economic development, trade policy, sustainable growth, and capacity building initiatives and exports.
