Staff Reporter :
Commerce Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin has called on businesses to fully harness the potential of Bangladesh’s ceramic industry and turn it into a stronger export-oriented sector.
He made the remarks today while inaugurating the Ceramic Expo Bangladesh 2025 as the chief guest at the International Convention City Bashundhara in Purbachal, Dhaka, according to a press release.
Currently, more than 70 factories produce tableware, tiles, sanitary ware, and other ceramic items, with the domestic market valued at around Tk 8,000 crore annually. Over the past decade, production and investment in the sector have surged by nearly 150 percent.
Bangladesh now exports ceramic products to over 50 countries, earning about Tk 5 billion annually. Overall investment in the sector has exceeded Tk 18,000 crore, providing direct and indirect employment to nearly five lakh people.
Adviser Bashir Uddin urged the business community to offer practical and constructive proposals rather than just complaints.
“The government is supportive and ready to provide facilities, but this must be based on fair and standard industrial practices,” he said.
He highlighted that political connections alone will no longer drive business success. “The time is now for skills, competence, and technology,” he added.
Bashir Uddin also questioned why the ceramic industry has not achieved export growth similar to the ready-made garment sector, citing challenges in cost competitiveness, design innovation, logistics, productivity, and energy management.
He called for identifying these issues and implementing realistic solutions.
Organised by the Bangladesh Ceramic Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BCMEA), the four-day expo will run until 30 November. The event features 135 organisations and 300 brands from 25 countries, along with around 500 international representatives and buyers.
Ceramic Expo Bangladesh 2025, one of the largest ceramic fairs in Asia, includes seminars, a job fair, B2B and B2C meetings, live demonstrations, spot orders, raffle draws, and new product launches. The fair is open to visitors daily from 10am to 6pm.
