Business
APR showcases 'pioneering solutions' in textile at DTG 2023
Indonesia's Asia Pacific Rayon (APR), a producer of viscose rayon, is showcasing and providing samples of its yarns and fibres at the 17th Dhaka International Textile and Garment Machinery Exhibition.
The four-day exhibition that began Wednesday is expected to provide an opportunity for local textile and garment manufacturers to meet their global suppliers and experience their digital solutions and innovations.
APR is Asia's "first fully integrated" viscose rayon producer from plantation to viscose fibre and the only Indonesian company that has joined the exhibition.
The company is sharing information on its sustainability commitments under its APR2030 agenda, including the responsible sourcing of fibre for viscose production. Some of the APR2030 targets include reducing its product carbon footprint per tonne of viscose staple fibre by 50 percent.
APR said it will continue to derive 100 percent of its mill's energy needs from renewable and clean energy sources, investing in solutions to improve process efficiency and recovery systems and accelerate innovation in textile recycling, using 20 percent waste composition in its viscose production.
The company's mill in Pangkalan Kerinci, Riau, Indonesia, produces 240,000 tonnes of viscose staple fibre annually "using state-of-the-art production facilities and innovation while ensuring environmental-friendly production."
APR is the "first viscose manufacturer" in Indonesia to earn the sustainable textile production (sTeP) certification from OEKOTEX, an independent Swiss-based certification organisation for viscose staple fibre.
The company sells to more than 20 countries globally, including key markets like Turkey, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.
Bangladesh is the second largest export market for APR with around 20 percent share of the company's total export.
Viscose-rayon is a fully biodegradable alternative to acrylic, polyester, nylon, and other petroleum-based synthetic fabrics. The demand for viscose rayon is poised to grow at a CAGR of 4 percent by 2028 as fashion brands shift to non-fossil fuel-based materials.
Soft as cotton, breathable, and smooth as silk, viscose rayon drapes beautifully and provides comfort and design versatility.
"Bangladesh is a key market for us. Our VSF (viscose-staple fibre) business will continue to expand into the international markets by partnering with others in the textile value chain. We are committed to responding to customer demand for sustainable viscose with quality, differentiated product offerings, and competitive pricing," said Tapan Sannigrahi, vice-president of marketing and downstream development of APR.
Read more: Bangladesh RMG industry gearing up with latest innovations & technologies: BGMEA
NBR chair urges Pran-RFL to invest more in heavy industries
National Board of Revenue (NBR) Chairman Abu Hena Md Rahmatul Muneem has urged Pran-RFL Group to invest more in heavy industries.
"It will not only enrich our economy but also create huge employment in the country," he said while visiting the industrial park of Pran-RFL in Habiganj Tuesday.
Ahsan Khan Chowdhury, chairman and chief executive officer of Pran-RFL Group, welcomed the NBR chairman.
Abu Hena visited various manufacturing units of the industrial park, including biscuit, juice and beverage, confectionery, liquid glucose, transformer and bicycle. He also inaugurated new plants of noodles and cables.
Ahsan said: "Pran-RFL's Habiganj Industrial Park has changed the overall economy of the district. Around 25,000 people are working in the industrial park."
Read more: German engineering delegation visits Pran-RFL Industrial Park
BSEC approves Tk50 crore mutual fund PLI AML 1st Unit
The capital market regulator has approved the draft prospectus of a Tk50 crore open-ended mutual fund – PLI AML 1st Unit Fund.
"The go-ahead came at the 856th meeting of the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) Wednesday. BSEC Chairman Professor Shibli Rubayat-ul-Islam presided over the meeting," Mohammad Rezaul Karim, BSEC executive director and spokesperson, told UNB.
The sponsor of the mutual fund is Popular Life Insurance Company which initially invested Tk25 crore, and the remaining Tk25 crore is open for the general investors.
The face value per unit of the fund is Tk10; PLI Asset Management is the fund's asset manager while ICB Capital Management is its trustee. Brac Bank will act as custodian of the fund.
Bank Job Circular 2023: 74 job opportunities in 6 integrated banks
Recruitment circular has been published in six Banks and Financial Institutions comprising the members of the Bankers Selection Committee. 74 people from sixth to ninth grade will be taken in these banks.
Post Name: Programmer
Bank Name: Ansar VDP Development Bank
No. of Posts: 1
Grade: 6
Post Name: Assistant Database Administrator
Name of the Bank: Palli Accumik Bank
No. of Posts: 1
Grade: 6
Post Name: Assistant Programmer
Number of Posts: 33 (26 in Sonali Bank, 2 in Bangladesh Agriculture Bank, 3 in Employment Bank and 2 in Investment Corporation of Bangladesh)
Grade: 9
Assistant Engineer (IT)/ Assistant Maintenance Engineer
Number of Posts: 36 (33 in Sonali Bank, 2 in Bangladesh Krishi Bank and 1 in Investment Corporation of Bangladesh)
Grade: 9 Assistant Database Administrators
Bank Name: Sonali Bank
No. of Posts: 3
Grade: 9
Interested candidates should apply through this website
(https://erecruitment.bb.org.bd/career/feb122023_bscs_18.pdf) regarding Bangladesh Bank recruitment.
Application fee is TK. 200
Application Last Date: 13 March 2023
Walton brings new Takyon e-bike
Walton has launched a new model of Takyon electric bike at an affordable price.
The eco-friendly Takyon Leo e-bike comes in three versions which can run for 40-80 kilometres on a single charge.
ICT Division Director General Md Mostafa Kamal recently launched the TAKYON Leo e-bike at Walton headquarters in Chandra of Gazipur.
Walton e-bike is the first in the segment in Bangladesh that got the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority's (BRTA) approval, the company said.
Currently, four versions of two models of Walton e-bikes are available in the market. With its portable charger, the e-bike can be charged from the 220-volt power line used in the residence.
Takyon Leo has three versions with 12AH, 20AH and 23AH batteries. The price of the 12Ah version is Tk49,850, and it can run for 40 kilometres on a single charge.
The 20Ah version can provide 70-kilometre mileage and is selling for Tk56,850. The 23Ah version is priced at Tk59,850 and can run for 80 kilometres on a single charge.
Also, Takyon 1.00 e-bike, available in red, blue and grey colours, is priced at Tk127,750.
Read more: 15 Best Motorbikes Under 2 lac taka for daily use, office commute
7th international electric expo begins on March 9 in Dhaka
The three-day ‘7th International Electric Expo Bangladesh 2023’ is going to be held in Dhaka in order to increase the export of international quality electrical products produced in the country.
Bangladesh Electrical Merchandise Manufacturers Association (BEMMA) and WEM Bangladesh Limited are jointly organizing the fair will begin at International Convention Center Bashundhara on March 9 and will continue till March 11.
A total of 120 stalls of 150 brands, 40 foreign representatives, and 80 exhibitors will participate in the fair.
Read: Mondol Group opens fashion outlet in Belkuchi
Mohammad Aftab Jabed, President of Bangladesh Electrical Merchandise Manufacturers Association, revealed this in a press conference at Dhaka Reporters Unity on Monday on the occasion of the Expo.
FBCCI Vice President Mir Nizam Uddin Ahmed, BECMA Vice President ABM Arshad Hossain, Senior Vice President Abul Kalam Azad, Vice President Mominur Rahman Mithu, SME Foundation Director Enayet Hossain Chowdhury, Insurance Director and Fair Committee Chairman Ajibur Rahman, BPC Executive Officer SM Anwar Hossain, WEM Bangladesh Limited Managing Director Sheikh Muhammad Arif, and Director (Marketing) Nasimur Rahman, among other, present in the press conference.
Mondol Group opens fashion outlet in Belkuchi
Ambrela, a fashion brand of apparel exporter Mondol Group, opened an outlet in Sirajganj's Belkuchi Sunday.
Abdul Momin Mondol, managing director of Mondol Group and lawmaker from Sirajganj-5, inaugurated the new outlet of Ambrela, the 27th of the fashion brand, at the Mukundaganti Bazar area of the upazila, said a media statement Sunday.
Abdul Alim Mondol, director of Mondol Group, and top officials of Ambrela were also present at the programme.
Mondol Group plans to open 100 outlets of Ambrela across the country to employ people at the grassroots level and develop the country's cottage industry, said the company.
Read: ‘Walkar’ footwear opens 50th outlet in Tangail
FBCCI appeals for govt support to help steel industry flourish
The FBCCI Standing Committee on Iron, Carbon Steel, Stainless Steel, and Re-rolling Industries on Monday sought the government's support on an urgent basis to deal with the escalating of raw materials.
The demand came from the second meeting of the committee. The industries are facing severe problems on increasing the high price of the raw materials in the world market, shortage of electricity and gas in factories, the FBCCI leader opined in the meeting.
In this situation, the steel, rod, and cement industries of the country are suffering from extreme crises even though the businessmen of this sector sought the government's support on an urgent basis to deal with the crisis.
Meanwhile, due to the shortage of electricity and gas in the factory, production has also decreased. Low production has made it difficult to repay bank loans, creating a risk of default, they said.
In this situation, businessmen in these sectors called for the government's support to sustain the steel, rod, and cement industries of the country.
FBCCI President Md. Jashim Uddin said that the steel sector is directly involved in the development of the country. It is very important to turn this sector around to continue industrialization and other development.
He demanded a dollar fund for the import of raw materials along with uninterrupted electricity and gas supply to factories.
Jasim also sought banks’ cooperation in opening import LCs.
The meeting was presided over by the chairman of the committee and chairman of the Bangladesh Steel Manufacturers Association Manwar Hossain
FBCCI vice-president M A Momen, former first vice-president Mohammad Ali, Director SM Jahangir Alam (Manik), committee Co-chairmen Md. Shahidullah, Dr. Sumon Chowdhury, and Engineer Shafiqul Haque Talukder, among others, spoke at the meeting.
Samsung scoops up Superbrands Award
Samsung scoops up Superbrands Award
Dhaka, Feb 13 (UNB) – Samsung TV recently won the Superbrands Bangladesh award for "elevating consumers' TV entertainment experiences via cutting-edge technologies and out-of-the-box thinking" at a Dhaka hotel
Samsung's innovation-led growth has introduced "groundbreaking technologies" in multiple categories.
In 2022, Samsung TV became the No. 1 TV Brand in Bangladesh, in the Best Brand Award, organised by Bangladesh Brand Forum in partnership with Nielsen IQ.
Shahriar Bin Lutfor, director and head of Business at Samsung Consumer Electronics, said: "Superbrands' 'Best TV Brand' award is a special one because this is the first time in Bangladesh's history that a TV brand has won this award."
"Attaining the Superbrands status strengthens a brand's position and assures consumers and suppliers that they are buying the best brand in its category. We value this recognition and promise to continue our endeavours towards maintaining our top position."
Superbrands is a global arbiter for brands and operates in 90 countries.
Launched in 1994, Superbrands has become the most prominent symbol of brand success.
BGMEA, China discuss sharing knowledge, expertise in apparel, textile
The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and China have discussed sharing knowledge and expertise in the apparel and textile industry through collaboration between the BGMEA University of Fashion and Technology (BUFT) and leading Chinese textile and fashion universities and institutes.
BGMEA President Faruque Hassan paid a courtesy call to Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen at the embassy Monday.
Chinese Embassy Economic and Commercial Counsellor Song Yang and BGMEA Director Tanvir Ahmed and Chair of BGMEA Standing Committee on Foreign Mission Cell Shams Mahmud were also present.
The two sides discussed opportunities for expanding bilateral trade between Bangladesh and China.
Their discussion also included how both countries could derive more mutual trade benefits through further collaboration, especially in the area of the apparel and textile industry.
BGMEA President Faruque Hassan highlighted the Bangladesh RMG industry's target of $100 billion in garment export earnings by 2030.
So, Bangladesh's apparel industry is increasingly focusing on diversifying from cotton to non-cotton and high-value items to move up the value chain, he said.
"The shift will increase the demand for man-made fibre-based fabrics, chemicals and other raw materials. And China is a big source of all of these items and can meet the demand of Bangladesh. Besides, China is a leading exporter of garment and textile machinery," the BGMEA president added.
"Also, China is a promising market for Bangladesh’s RMG exports."
The BGMEA president thanked the Chinese government for allowing Bangladesh duty-free access to the Chinese market for RMG exports.
He called on the Chinese envoy to extend more cooperation and support to Bangladeshi businessmen in obtaining visas to facilitate their trading with China and Hong Kong.
He also requested the Chinese government to increase the number of flights between Bangladesh and China.