The four-day international plastic fair concluded on Saturday, opening up new avenues for the manufacturers, traders, exporters, importers, and entrepreneurs in exchanging modern technology and potential investment opportunities for the sector.
The 15th version of the show, titled the 15th Bangladesh International Plastic, Packaging and Printing Industrial Fair-2023 (or the IPF-2023), was also able to draw an increased number of visitors from home and abroad, according to organisers.
The fair was wrapped up formally on Saturday at the International Convention City Bashundhara in the capital.
Bangladesh Plastic Goods Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BPGMEA) organised the exposition this year after a recess of three years for the Covid-19 pandemic.
Bangladesh received spot orders of plastic goods worth about US$ 2.0 million at the fair, according to the association.
The IPF-2023 helped in technology transfer and market promotion, which were blocked for a long time due to the pandemic, manufacturers said.
The fair was an effective event for raising competitiveness of Bangladesh's plastic goods in global market that would boost up export basket, they observed.
Participating in the closing session, Morshed Alam, member of the parliament and chairman of the Bengal Group of Industries, said the country's plastic sector achieved a significant development through domestic use and shipment of the products, so far.
He stressed the need for further development to ensure compliance in the sector that will help it flourish as a leading one.
Shamim Ahmed, president of the BPGMEA, recommended establishing industries of import substitute raw materials of plastic goods in the country.
Businesses from some 21 countries took part in the fair with 750 stalls and booths.
The participating countries include China, Taiwan, India, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Indonesia, South Korea, Belgium, Canada, USA, France, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Austria, Singapore, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates.
In future, the event will expand both in number of participants as well as number of countries, hoped the organisers.
Jashim Uddin, president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), among others, spoke at the programme.
Currently, more than 5,030 industrial units of micro, small, medium and large scales are operating in the plastic sector across the country.
Around 1.3 million people are employed in the industry.
