DHAKA, Feb 1, 2026 (BSS) - A three-day Bangladesh Light Engineering Expo 2026 will begin in the capital tomorrow aiming to make the country’s promising light engineering sector more competitive and export-oriented. Organisers said the expo would showcase domestic industrial capacity, reduce import dependence, and create new opportunities to access international markets. Bangladesh Engineering Industry Owners Association (BEIOA) President Md Abdur Razzaque made the remarks at a press conference at the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) today. He said the expo, supported by the Ministry of Commerce and the World Bank–backed Export Competitiveness for Jobs (EC4J) project, will be held at the Shaheed Abu Sayeed International Convention Centre from February 2 to 4. The exhibition will remain open daily from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm, featuring the latest technologies, components, and innovative products from the light engineering sector. Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman will attend the inaugural ceremony tomorrow as the chief guest. Hosna Ferdous Sumi, senior private sector specialist at the World Bank, and Md Abdur Rahim Khan, additional secretary of the Ministry of Commerce and project director of EC4J will attend as special guests. Senior government officials, representatives of the FBCCI, business chambers and associations, as well as local and foreign buyers, entrepreneurs and investors, are also expected to attend the event.  Highlighting the importance of the sector, Abdur Razzaque said the light engineering industry provides critical backward linkages to agriculture, textiles, construction, power, automobiles, and household appliances. Currently, approximately 50,000 small and medium-sized light engineering enterprises operate across the country, employing more than 300,000 skilled workers. The sector contributes nearly 3 per cent to the national GDP. He said nearly half of Bangladesh’s $8.2 billion domestic demand for engineering products is met locally through the production of more than 3,800 types of machinery, spare parts, tools, dies, moulds, and engineering accessories. However, significant reliance on imported machinery and components still remains, indicating substantial potential for further expansion. Despite strong global demand for engineering products, Bangladesh’s share in the nearly $7 trillion global market remains below 1 per cent, he noted. Currently, Bangladeshi light engineering exports stand at approximately $795 million. With appropriate policy support, technological upgradation, and increased investment, export earnings from the sector could reach $12.56 billion by 2030, he added. Describing the expo as more than a display event, Abdur Razzaque said it would function as an effective sourcing and networking platform, directly connecting manufacturers, buyers, suppliers, investors, and policymakers, thereby facilitating technology transfer, business deals, and international market entry. The expo will feature construction and packaging machinery, agricultural equipment, electrical goods, jute and textile machinery parts, automobile components, dies and moulds, among thousands of industrial products. More than 50 booths will showcase the innovation and capacity of local enterprises. Two seminars will be held alongside the exhibition—one focusing on strategies to enhance competitiveness in the global market after LDC graduation, and the other on the need for research and innovation in developing the light engineering sector. The BEIOA president also presented several policy proposals to advance the sector’s sustainable development. He stressed the need to ensure factories comply with international standards to achieve export readiness and called for the establishment of specialised light engineering zones within industrial estates. He further emphasised that producing high-value, exportable products is not possible without product diversification and technology transfer, urging government support for the adoption of new technologies, research, and innovation. Razzaque also highlighted the need to reduce import duties on raw materials and ensure easier import facilities to enhance competitiveness. On technological advancement, he said Bangladesh is not behind China, India, or Vietnam, but modern technology, improved design, and compliance with international standards are essential to survive global competition. In this regard, technology transfer and skills development training are indispensable. He also called for a simple, effective, and timely patent and design registration system to protect locally produced components and die designs, and urged measures to increase the participation of women and youth workers in this labour-intensive sector through training and incentives. Moreover, BEIOA President stressed the importance of cash incentives and priority access to bank loans on easy terms for export-oriented and export-ready enterprises. Responding to a question, he said they have been urging the National Board of Revenue (NBR) for several years to withdraw duties on the import of raw materials, expressing hope that the government would come up with a solution soon. He pointed out a clear disparity in the duty structure, noting that while the import duty on finished goods is only 1 per cent, duties on raw materials used to produce the same products go as high as 57 per cent. He urged the government to address and rationalise this discrimination to support domestic manufacturing. Organisers expressed optimism that the expo would strengthen the domestic industry, attract new investment, create employment, and enhance the visibility and credibility of Bangladesh’s light engineering sector in the global market. Senior vice-president of BEIOA, Md Abdur Rashid, vice-president Raju Ahmed, central directors of the association, and representatives of the Export Competitiveness for Jobs (EC4J) project of the Ministry of Commerce were present at the press conference.