Manufacturing hub
Bangladesh to make smart choices
Were working to make Bangladesh the best
destination for production.
UNB
Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu yesterday said Bangladesh will make smart choices and has chosen solutions that guarantee workers safety, high productivity, minimum effect on the environment and maximum return for investors, reports UNB.
Well take additional steps to develop a more advanced industry, and an efficient and sustainable manufacturing sector, he said.
Minister Amu was addressing a seminar titled Making Bangladesh a Next Generation Manufacturing Hub - Smart Manufacturing by Sweden in the capital.
Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Kazi M Aminul Islam and Swedish Ambassador in Dhaka Johan Frisell were present.
Representatives of Swedish companies and Swedish researchers came together at the event.
The seminar was organised by the Embassy of Sweden in Dhaka in collaboration with Business Sweden, the Swedish Trade and Investment Council.
The objective of the daylong seminar was to promote Bangladesh as an important destination for manufacturing. Becoming a high-income country by 2041 is possible and smart manufacturing is part of the solution, said Kazi M Aminul Islam.
There is great potential and we will have massive efforts to move in that direction, he said adding, Were working to make Bangladesh the best destination for production. Ambassador Johan Frisell said Bangladesh is going through a rapid industrialisation, with competitive production and high domestic demand.
The government of Bangladesh has a high ambition to become a middle-income country by 2021 and creating a production that is efficient and profitable, he said.
We see great potentials for cooperation with Bangladesh in finding solutions that are environmental friendly and with respect of occupational safety. Were, therefore, offering the concept of smart manufacturing, said the Ambassador.
Lisa Tullus, a representative of Business Sweden made a presentation on the concept of smart manufacturing.
Lihui Wang, Professor and Chair of Sustainable Manufacturing at KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Charlotta Johnsson, Associate Professor, Lund University presented their research on smart and sustainable manufacturing systems, automation and innovation.
The Swedish companies HM, Tetra Pak, ABB, Ericsson and Alfa Laval shared views on how Smart Manufacturing will enhance the manufacturing sector and how they in different ways can contribute to more advance manufacturing capabilities in Bangladesh.
As part of the Bangladeshi governments Vision 2021, and Perspective Plan 2021: Making Vision 2021 A Reality to transform Bangladesh into a middle-income country, high level targets have been placed for economic and human development in Bangladesh, said a press release issued by Swedish Embassy in Dhaka.
The industrial sector is seen as a cornerstone to this growth. The manufacturing sector will be a key driver to this growth and development, it said.
Traditionally Bangladeshs industry has been led by garments and food products which are highly labour intensive.
Bangladeshs success in these industries has been aided by abundant availability of low cost labour. However, such industries alone will not be able to fulfill the aspirations of Bangladeshi people in the future and there is a need to expand into other sectors which are technology intensive and more productive.
