Furniture export witnesses 20.27pc growth in FY18

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DJHAKA, July 21, 2018 (BSS) – Furniture export maintained a steady growth in fiscal year 2017-18 (FY18) as the country exported furniture products worth $6.31 crore, up 20.27 percent from the fiscal 2016-17 (FY17).

Furniture items worth $5.25 crore were exported in FY17.

According to Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), the country targeted to export furniture products worth $6.10 crore in FY18.

“Our furniture products are becoming popular in different parts of the world, especially in middle eastern countries because of innovative design, quality wood and technical skills,” said president of Bangladesh Furniture Exporters’ Association (BFEA) K M Akhtaruzzaman.

Talking to BSS, he said the furniture industry has been able to consolidate its position in the domestic market over the last ten years also. The manufacturers are producing quality products with innovative designs, he added.

Akhtaruzzaman said Bangladesh has potential to be one of the world’s furniture exporting countries like Canada, China, Italy, Germany and Malaysia. He requested taking steps to reduce duty on the import of some raw materials for making the furniture products more competitive in the domestic and international markets.

EPB director general Bijoy Bhattacharjee said steps have been taken in the 7th Five Year Plan to establish furniture products as permanent export products.

Export of furniture products witnessed a rise over the last 10 years and export target was achieved every year, he added.

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