Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun said, it is time to think afresh and take steps for the development of entrepreneurs of small industries. They form the basis of our industrial development and overall economic progress. Big industry is created from small industry. They get various technical facilities including training, plot allocation from BSIC, an institution under the Ministry of Industry. However, the basic foundation of enterprise creation is capital or lack of capital, despite having the necessary skills and competences, the initiatives of many micro-entrepreneurs are destroyed in the bud or cannot materialize. That is why any financial institution or institution like BASIC Bank can be created under BCIC.
The Minister said this while addressing the chief guest at the discussion meeting on ‘Role of BSCIC in the implementation of Vision 2041 in the progress of development’ organized by Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) at Oasis Auditorium of Hotel Pan Pacific Sonargaon in Dhaka on 10 June 2024 Monday.
The minister said that Bangladesh is going to transition from LDC to developing country within the next 3 years. That’s why we have to make full preparations from now. Special attention should be paid to the development of potential industrial sectors including jute, leather, pharmaceuticals and production of quality products. He said, apart from the global market, there is a huge demand for quality products in our domestic market as well. Moreover, large industrial enterprises can outsource through small industrial enterprises by producing quality products with improved standards. He also said that the entrepreneurs of small industries should take necessary steps to get the benefits of domestic economy.
Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun said, the artisans have beautifully portrayed the culture of our village Bengal in the artworks made with their skillful talent, thinking, skill and craftsmanship. The minister expressed optimism and said that by awarding the ‘Craftsman Award 1430’, new initiatives will be created in the craft sector and creativity will increase, which in turn will play a far-reaching role in the development of this industry. He congratulated all the award-winning artisans on behalf of the Ministry of Industry.
BSCIC Chairman (Grade-1) Sanjay Kumar Bhowmik presided over the event as a special speech by Zakia Sultana, Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Industries. The original article was presented by the former governor of Bangladesh Bank and the chief advisor and founding vice-chancellor of East West University. Mohammad Farasuddin. Bangladesh Competition Commission Member Md. Hafizur Rahman and General Secretary of Jatiya Press Club and Editor of Daily Bhorer Paper Shyamal Dutta. The senior vice president of FBCCI participated in the open discussion. Amin Helali and Commercial Counselor of Bangladesh Embassy in Geneva, Switzerland. Salim Hossain. Among the recipients of the ‘Karushilpi 1430 Award’, ‘Karuratna’ Gopendra Nath Chakraborty and ‘Karugaurab’ Veethika Joddar expressed their feelings. The program was moderated by Sheikh Ali Ashraf Farooq, Designer, BSIC.
In the speech of the special guest, Zakia Sultana, senior secretary of the Ministry of Industry, said that Bisik has adopted a master plan to establish 100 eco-friendly industrial parks on 40 thousand acres of land with the aim of building a developed Bangladesh by 2041 in order to attract the growing demand of the country and domestic and foreign investment. If this master plan is implemented, 2 crore people will be employed by 2041 and it will be possible to increase the export income from 400 to 500 billion dollars. He said that till June 2023, 5985 industrial establishments have been built in 82 industrial cities of BC. 205 industrial plots have been allotted in favor of 163 tannery industrial units in Leather Industrial City of B.C. Moreover Central Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) has been set up in leather industrial city. The senior secretary said that most of the country’s drug manufacturing companies are located in the basic industrial cities. Also, the first specialized Active Pharmaceuticals Ingredients (API) industrial park of the country has been constructed at Ghazaria, Munshiganj with the help of BCIC for the production of raw materials for the pharmaceutical industry. He also said that apart from economic growth, BSCIC is playing a helpful role in preserving and promoting our cultural heritage.
In the original article. Dr. Mohammad Farasuddin said it is important to continue to achieve employment and GDP growth in industrialization. By identifying approximately 40/42 lakh CMS entrepreneurs, it would be appropriate to set up US-style incubators in universities for phased project evaluation, project formulation, market survey, financing (on easy terms) efforts and domestic-abroad marketing and evaluation and survey under BSCIC.
In the president’s speech, Bscic chairman said, “Bscic, an institution built by Bangabandhu, is making a significant contribution to building a dream of Sonar Bangla free from hunger and poverty by creating entrepreneurship and employment opportunities and building an industrial-rich smart Bangladesh in 2041 under the leadership of the Prime Minister, People’s Leader Sheikh Hasina.
Among the guests invited to the event were representatives of various entrepreneurial organizations, representatives of domestic and foreign chambers of commerce and industry, newly appointed commercial councilors of Bangladesh in various countries in the international arena, representatives of diplomatic and development cooperation organizations of various countries assigned to Bangladesh, representatives of various print and electronic media were present.
In the open discussion, the guests expressed their views on the activities and future plans of BSCIC. This was followed by the ‘Artisan Award 1430’, which recognized the creativity and innovation among the country’s artisans.
On the occasion of ‘Craftsman Award-1430’, 1 craftsman was awarded Karuratna as the best craftsman and 9 craftsmen were awarded Karugaurab Award as skilled craftsman in recognition of their work skills, quality and continuity of tradition. This year, Gopendra Nath Chakraborty of Jhenaidah received Karuratna Award for Shola art as the best artist.
Each winner was awarded a certificate, crest and a check of Rs. The awardees expressed their feelings and thanked BSCIC.
At the venue there was an exhibition of handcrafts and handicrafts where 15 stalls of Jamdani, Shataranji, Shitalpati, Jute products, Manipuri sarees, leather products, food products, bamboo-cane products, etc., were displayed by BCIC entrepreneurs.
All expressed hope that the discussion meeting and award ceremony will inspire the development of handicrafts in the country and increase the innovative spirit and creativity among the artists. Finally, the event concludes with dinner.