In recognition of the contribution of the industrial sector to the national economy, creating incentives, encouraging creativity and setting up industries in the private sector, creating employment and making important contributions to the country’s economy, the Ministry of Industry awarded the ‘President’s Industrial Development Award 2021’ to 20 industrial establishments of 6 categories done Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun was present as the chief guest at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital today and awarded crests and certificates of appreciation to the owners/ representatives of industrial establishments.
Minister of Agriculture was present as a special guest in the awarding ceremony under the chairmanship of Zakia Sultana, senior secretary of the Ministry of Industry. Md Abdus Shahid and FBCCI President Mahbubul Alam.
Speaking as the chief guest at the event, the Industries Minister said that the present government’s contemporary plans and policies and taking effective steps have resulted in significant and visible development in the industry. Besides, they are being encouraged by recognizing the important contribution of businessmen and industrial entrepreneurs in the national economy. As a part of such creative initiatives, the Ministry of Industries has been regularly awarding ‘Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Industry Award’, ‘President’s Industry Development Award’, ‘CIP (Industry) Card’, ‘Productivity and Quality Excellence Award’ etc. He said, such recognition will motivate industrial entrepreneurs to achieve excellence in the products produced in their respective factories. Following this example, new industrial entrepreneurs will also be motivated to improve the quality of their products and establish world-class industries. As a result, quality industrialization will accelerate in the country.
The minister said that political stability is one of the conditions for economic development. As it has been in place for the past 15 years, economic development has accelerated with rapid industrialization. He said, Bangladesh itself is a big market. In order to increase the demand of Bangladeshi products in the domestic market as well as in the global market, we have to focus on the production of quality products. At this time, the minister called on our industrialists to work with honesty and sincerity in producing world-class quality products.
Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun said, under the direction of the Prime Minister, 31 traditional products of Bangladesh, including Tangail Saree, have already been given GI certificate. A ten-year ‘National Productivity Master Plan’ has been formulated to increase productivity at the national level. The Minister said that ‘National Industrial Policy-2022’ and ‘SME Policy-2019’ have been formulated to speed up the process of industrialization including setting up modern and up-to-date industrial factories. He said that under the direction of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the Ministry of Industry is working on setting up new industrial factories, modernizing old factories and replacing machinery to continue the dynamism in the industrial sector with a focus on labor intensive industrialization.If the ongoing march of development in the industrial sector continues, Bangladesh will become an industrially rich state before the scheduled time.
In the speech of the special guest, the Minister of Agriculture said. Md. Abdus Shahid said, despite the enviable success in agricultural production, we are far behind in processing, preserving and exporting agricultural products. About 20-30% of our produced vegetables and fruits are wasted due to less processing facilities and lack of storage. As a result the farmers are affected and the consumers are also affected. He said, annual export of our agricultural products is only about one billion dollars. But the potential here is very high, it is possible to earn billions of dollars every year by exporting agricultural products. At this time, he called on industrialists and businessmen to increase investment in the country’s agricultural sector.
In the President’s speech, Zakia Sultana, Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Industry, said that the Ministry of Industry is providing necessary sponsorship and policy support to entrepreneurs to achieve the goal of sustainable and knowledge-based industrialization. Besides, initiatives have been taken to establish a world-class industrial database and an industrial university.
He said, in the light of the current government’s election manifesto-2024 under the slogan ‘Smart Bangladesh: Development is visible, employment will increase’, the Ministry of Industry has formulated the ‘Work Plan 2024-2028’ as the first ministry among all ministries/departments. Through this, the Ministry of Industry will play an important role in the implementation of the election manifesto of the government. The senior secretary said that the ‘National Logistics Policy 2024’ has been formulated recently under the overall supervision of the Prime Minister’s Office. It provides all directions for establishing a developed, prosperous and smart Bangladesh by 2041 by achieving national growth targets and increasing trade and investment capacity. I believe that ‘National Logistics Policy 2024’ will further accelerate the process of industrialization.
This award is being given to a total of 20 industrial establishments/entrepreneurs in 06 (six) categories as per the classification of industrial establishments. These are – 06 in Large Industry Category, 03 in Medium Industry Category, 04 in Small Industry Category, 03 in Micro Industry Category, 03 in Cottage Industry Category and 01 in Hi-Tech Industry Category.
Ecotex Ltd., Pran Dairy Ltd. jointly stood first in the large industry category. and Mir Akhtar Hossain Ltd., 2nd is Square Food and Beverage Ltd., jointly 3rd is Snowtex Outerwear Ltd. And Square Toiletries Ltd. Bengal Poly & Paper Sacks Ltd. was 1st in medium industry category, Basumati Distribution Ltd. was 2nd. And 3rd is APS Apparels Ltd. In the small industry category, The Reliable Builders and Concord Entertainment Company Ltd. jointly became 1st, Rangpur Foundry Ltd. became 2nd. And 3rd is Gunje United Ltd. In micro industry category, Fariha Green Mud Leathers Ltd. got 1st, A.B. got 2ndM Water Company and 3rd was Deepled Laboratories Ltd. Blue-Star Agro Products & Industries won 1st in cottage industry category, Preeti Beauty Parlor won 2nd and Lehaj Salma Jubo Mahila Kalyan Sanstha won 3rd. Biz Solutions Ltd. is the only company selected in Hi-Tech industry category.
It is to be noted that according to the ‘President’s Industrial Development Award Guidelines 2013’ by the Ministry of Industry, the ‘President’s Industrial Development Award’ was started for the first time in 2014. In continuation of this, the ‘President’s Industrial Development Award 2021’ is being given for the 7th time this year.
In the ‘President’s Industrial Development Award Policy 2020’, the purpose of awarding the President’s Industrial Development Award, determining the field, determining the number of award recipients and criteria, nomination eligibility, preliminary list preparation committee, application evaluation committee and formation of nomination finalization committee etcScope etc. are described.The Chairman/Managing Director (as applicable) of the President’s Industrial Development Awardee will be invited to various national functions and civic receptions organized by the City Corporation one year after receiving the award.