The suppliers and manufacturers expressed their interest on the sideline of the inauguration ceremony of the concurrent events of the second edition of PRINTECH Bangladesh 2022 and the 3P Bangladesh International Trade Show

The suppliers and manufacturers of the local and global printing equipment are eyeing Bangladesh as their potential market and intend to increase business with its apparel, textile, publication, and other relevant sectors.

The suppliers and manufacturers expressed their interest on the sideline of the inauguration ceremony of the concurrent events of the second edition of PRINTECH Bangladesh 2022 and the 3P Bangladesh International Trade Show.

The three-day events, jointly organized by ASK Trade and Exhibition and Printing Industries Association of Bangladesh (PIAB) at the International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB), began on Thursday. It will end on September 10.

Zhongxin Textile Limited, a GuangDong-based Chinese label and ribbon manufacturer, also has a factory at Kaliakair, Gazipur. They participated in the expo to attract new buyers. 

Talking to Dhaka Tribune, Shahriar Kutubul Alam, head of sales and marketing of the company said that they have 150 fixed and nearly 50-60 part-time customers in Bangladesh whose buyers are Zara, H&M, Next and other reputed brands.

“We manufacture three million metres of products here for our buyers and our business situation is averagely good,” he added.

He also said that they have 105 knitting machines and four dying machines.

“However, due to the ongoing war and global inflation, our orders have dropped nearly 25%. The fluctuation in dollar rates also impacted our business,” he added.

Shri Swastik Mac-Tech India Pvt Ltd, a Chennai-based manufacturer of tape, box packaging tape, cello tape, wrapping, adhesive etc for industrial usage, participated in any Bangladeshi expo for the first time.

Pawan, head of marketing of the company said that they have few clients in Bangladesh. But they want more.

“We are here to get more clients. The quality of our products is far better than that of many Indian and Chinese companies. Bangladesh is a fast-growing country. So we want to increase our business here,” he added.

Zenith Worldwide is a Gujarat-based company that primarily manufactures PU and rubber rollers for paper, textile, steel, rexine, and packaging industries.

Talking to Dhaka Tribune, Tapan Paul, manager, sales and marketing (export) of the company, said that they have been doing business with Bangladesh for more than 12 years and they always participate in this type of expo.

“The business environment in Bangladesh is quite good. However, there are no efficient companies producing these types of products with better quality,” he said, adding that they have a plan to establish a factory and local office in Bangladesh soon.

“We are going to a joint venture with a reputed Bangladeshi company (he preferred to hide the company name). The formalities are nearly done. Soon, we will declare this,” he further said. 

He also hinted that the Bangladeshi factories of Zenith Worldwide might be inside an economic zone.

They have 17 units in India and also have units in Vietnam, Kenya, and South Africa, he added.

However, the manufacturers of this type of industry sought policy support from the government to boost export, including the declaration of it as an industry.

The exhibition was participated by 100 local and foreign companies. 

PRINTECH 2022 is an ideal platform to source from local and international suppliers for all verticals of the printing industry in Bangladesh, be it offset printing, digital printing, sublimation printing or textile printing. 

3P Bangladesh is an interconnected sectors’ trade show focused on materials, machinery and allied products related to paper, packaging and plastic. 

The organizers claimed that about 7,000 small and cottage printing entrepreneurs are operating throughout the country. Out of which, almost 2,000 printing houses can be considered modern and updated in technology. 

Around Tk30,000 crore has been invested in this sector and the annual market size is over Tk4,000 crore, where Tk160 crore is export-oriented. 

Moreover, about three lakh people are engaged in this sector.

Shahid Serneabat, chairman of PIAB, said that Bangladesh is able to supply all kinds of printing solutions. 

The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce & Industries (FBCCI) Acting President Amin Helali said that the printing sector is contributing 6% of its total export and 9% from readymade garments. But the sector is yet to be declared an industry.

Tipu Sultan Bhuiyan, managing director of ASK Trade and Exhibitions, said that the exhibition would be very useful for visitors to witness new innovations in printing, plastic, packaging and paper.