Business
Workshop on cross-border e-commerce unveils global export opportunities for local entrepreneurs through Alibaba platform
A workshop titled ‘Trading Beyond Border’ was held at Krishibid Institution Bangladesh (KIB) in Dhaka on Sunday, aiming to foster global outreach for local manufacturers and entrepreneurs through the Alibaba platform. The event, orchestrated by Alibaba’s Bangladesh channel partner SkyTech Solutions in collaboration with the e-Commerce Association of Bangladesh (e-CAB), drew participation from approximately 250 e-commerce manufacturers and entrepreneurs.
The workshop commenced with a welcome address by Saidur Rahman, Director of the e-Commerce Association of Bangladesh (e-CAB), highlighting the potential for domestic e-commerce entrepreneurs to earn remittances by exporting products internationally. Rahman also touched upon the importance of cross-border e-commerce policy.
Kamrul Hasan, Head of Digital Marketing at SkyTech, delved into strategies for transitioning from local to global business, contrasting the local and international markets, outlining export procedures, and emphasizing the necessity for marketing, logistics, and company registration.
Hasan also shared inspirational success stories of entrepreneurs who have ventured into global markets through platforms like Alibaba, eBay, and Amazon, followed by a Q&A session addressing the entrepreneurs' queries.
Faisal Dolan's session illuminated the process of launching a business on Alibaba, covering membership benefits, account and store setup, storefront creation, product uploads, store management, buyer acquisition, and order fulfillment.
Nasri Ma, Alibaba’s Business Manager for Bangladesh, presented the keynote speech, shedding light on the expansive business opportunities available through Alibaba's Business-to-Business (B2B) platform and its sister concerns, including Taobao and Alipay.
Concluding the workshop, Musnad Ahmed, CEO of SkyTech Solutions, assured comprehensive support for businesses aspiring to leverage Alibaba, including account opening, company registration, and store management. He announced forthcoming workshops and personalized sessions for participants eager to navigate Alibaba's export opportunities.
Demand for Walton TVs constantly going up in European market
Demands for 'Made in Bangladesh' tagged televisions, manufactured by the country's super television brand 'Walton', is constantly going up in the European market. Thus, the exports of Walton made TVs has been increasing in more than 14 European countries.
In continuation of this, Walton has exported TV to the market of Ireland, a country in the northwest of Europe, for the seventh time, according to a media statement.
Saeed Al Imran, vice-president of Walton's global business unit and also in-charge of the European market, said that Walton started TV export operations in Ireland in 2019 under the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) method.
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Walton made TV's European standards and design, high picture quality, advanced features, durability and timely marketing strategy drew the attention of the Irish people in a very short time, noting it he added, thus the demands for Walton TVs is increasing in the Ireland market day by day.
As a result, he said, this month Walton has completed the shipment of TV exports to Ireland for the seventh time through a repeat order.
Engineer Mostafa Nahid Hossain, chief business officer of Walton TV, said, "We started TV exports to the European market in 2019. Walton TV is winning the hearts of buyers in the European market in a very short time. At present, about 95 percent of Walton TV's export revenue comes from the European market."
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Despite the adverse global trade condition following the effects of Corona epidemic, instability in the European market centering the Russia-Ukraine war, Walton has exported more than 100,000 units of TVs to the European market, he noted adding that about US$10 million came to the reserve of Bangladesh.
He said, "Walton is now the country's top TV exporter. Our goal is to make Bangladesh's image brighter in the global arena by exporting 'Made in Bangladesh' tag television in every corner of the world. To achieve that goal, we are moving forward with the mission of reaching the list of the top 5 television manufacturers in the world.
According to the Walton Global Business Unit, Walton is exporting 'Made in Bangladesh' tag TVs to more than 35 countries through hundreds of business partners.
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Out of the total export earnings of Walton TVs, 34 percent came from Denmark, 18 percent from Germany, 22 percent from Greece, 15 percent from Croatia and Ireland, six percent from Poland and five percent came from Africa and other countries.
89 percent turnout at BGMEA election, counting in progress
The vote counting is underway after 89 percent of the electorate cast their votes in the election of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) for the term of 2024-26.
Earlier, the polling took place at the BGMEA Building in Uttara peacefully from 10 am to 5 pm on Saturday.
After ending the polling, Election Management Board’s Chairman Jahangir Alamin told reporters that 89 percent of votes were cast in this year's election, which was held in a free and fair environment. There were no major complaints.
Around 2226 out of a total of 2496 voters voted in this election, which is more than 89 percent.
Among them, 1839 people or above 90 percent (90.50 percent) voted out of 2032 voters in Dhaka. In Chattogram, out of 464 voters, 387 voted, which is about 83.40 percent.
In this election, 70 candidates are fighting against 35 director posts in Dhaka and Chattagram. Two panels the Forum and the Combined Council (Sammilito Parishad) are contesting the election of the BGMEA Board of Directors.
SM Mannan Kochi, of Seha Designs chairman, led the Sammilito Parishad, who is the current senior vice-president of BGMEA. Another panel forum is led by Faisal Samad, director of Surma Garments. He is also the current director of the committee; besides he has once served as vice-president.
Two new deputy governors pay homage to Bangabandhu at Tungipara
Newly appointed two deputy governors of Bangladesh Bank (BB) Khurshid Alam and Dr Md. Habibur Rahman paid homage to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Tungipara in Gopalganj on Friday.
They placed a wreath at the mausoleum of Father of the Nation.
They also offered Fateha and prayed for eternal peace for the departed souls of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and other martyrs of the August 15, 1975 carnage and during the liberation war
TexTIMe explores how innovation in denim takes to pinnacle
Speakers in a discussion meeting said on Thursday that with a consistent effort on quality improvement and value addition, adoption of updated denim technologies, and commitment towards a safe and sustainable industry, Bangladesh has become the world's number one denim supplier.
They said this at a discussion meeting on ‘Innovation in Denim’ as a part of its TexTIMe Episode-25, organised by Textile Today Innovation Hub (TTIH), held at the International Convention City Bashundhara, Dhaka.
The programme was held in the sideline of the 6th Dhaka International Denim Show 2024 and the 21st Dhaka International Yarn & Fabric Show 2024, said a press release.
TexTIMe (Textile Today Innovation Meets) is a regular event of Textile Today Innovation Hub – engaging industry leaders and policymakers to find out the pathways to tackle critical challenges and future prospects to sustain and grow.
The discussion, moderated by Tareq Amin, Founder & CEO of TTIH, brought together leading figures from the denim industry in Bangladesh, like - Shovon Islam, Managing Director of Sparrow Group; Rafee Mahmood, Chairman of Mahmud Group; Usman Maqsood, Director of Experience Group; Ferdaush Imtiaz, General Manager (Fabrics) of Poeticgem International ltd. and Md. Meherul Islam (Sohel), DGM (Fabric Tech & Sourcing) of Hirdaramani Bangladesh.
Experts opined that innovation in the denim sector is happening in making different products encompassing fabrics, garments, threads, machinery, finishing equipment, and accessories.
To lead the way in denim innovation, the panel explored some critical issues facing the denim industry, with a particular focus on sustainability.
The discussion also delved into strategies for increasing the value of denim products, ensuring smart negotiation skills, catering to evolving market demands, having policy support from the government, etc.
No possibility to increase sugar price: State Minister for Commerce
State Minister for Commerce Ahasanul Islam Titu said on Thursday that there is no possibility of short supply of sugar or price hike in the market due to fire in S Alam’s sugar mill or any other reason.
“I tell the businessmen, they should not try to exploit the crisis,” he said.
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His remark came during the opening ceremony of the second phase of a sales campaign by the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) on Thursday (March 7). The programme was held at ward no 24 of Dhaka North City Corporation.
The TCB is selling five products including dates at subsidised rate for 1 crore family card holders across the country.
“I see in the news that there is an attempt to increase the price of sugar in one or two places, none of the traders should do so, because the price of sugar will not increase even in mill gate.”
The concerned sugar mill owners of the country have promised this to the Ministry of Commerce, he said.
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He also pointed out that the government never wants to destroy the orderly environment of the supply chain and market with police and law enforcers.
“If the market has normal momentum, and it runs smoothly, I believe products will be available at a fair price. We are trying that. But if not, we will take all kinds of strict measures,” he warned.
Inflation rate fell slightly to 9.67 percent in February: BBS
The rate of inflation in Bangladesh fell slightly to 9.67 percent in February compared to 9.86 percent in January, but the overall inflation was over 9 percent during the last 12 consecutive months.
According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), the food inflation rate stood at 9.44 percent in February, while non-food inflation was 9.33 percent. In January, food inflation was 9.56 percent and the non-food inflation rate was 9.42 percent.
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The food inflation had soared to 12.54 percent in August last year, before finally dipping back to 10.76 percent in November.
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Meanwhile, the wage growth rate in February marginally rose to 7.78 percent, however, it has been lagging behind inflation for the past 25 months.
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EDOTCO, Huawei, sign MoU to deploy first fiberglass tower
EDOTCO Bangladesh and Huawei Technologies (Bangladesh) Limited signed an MoU to introduce advanced eco-friendly telecommunications tower made of Fiberglass Reinforced Plastics (FRP).
The MoU signing was held at the world’s most coveted event, Mobile World Congress in Barcelona last week, according to a press release on Wednesday.
Through this collaboration, EDOTCO Bangladesh will become the first TowerCo in the country to offer the fiberglass tower solutions to the Mobile Network Operators. As a technology partner Huawei will provide expertise to complete the FRP tower jointly EDOTCO team, it said.
The innovative FRP solutions will reduce up to 44% tower weight and increase construction efficiency up to 75%, which are ideal for rooftop sites in the density areas of the country. These towers are engineered not to reflect radio waves, ensuring efficient microwave transmission, while their durability allows them to withstand high voltage without damage.
Additionally, they are easy to install and transport, contributing to a more efficient construction process. Its environment friendly features ensure low CO2 emissions and lessen the need for frequent painting. These unique telecom infrastructures are poised to drive innovation in Bangladesh's evolving tower industry landscape, said the release.
Sunil Issac, Country Managing Director of EDOTCO Bangladesh, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, “Our collaboration represents a remarkable opportunity to enhance Bangladesh's thriving telecom infrastructure and play an instrumental role in realizing our sustainability vision. We are dedicated to shape the future of this industry and continue to enable connected Bangladesh with advanced sustainable practices in line with SDGs. We are optimistic that this partnership with Huawei will encourage others to come forward and collectively contribute more to the country’s industry growth."
Huyue, Vice President, Carrier Network Business Group, Huawei South Asia said, “The collaboration between EDOTCO and Huawei signifies our collective commitment as global innovators to be a major contributor towards Bangladesh monumental growth. This partnership enhances site facility availability and is set to bring positive change in the tower infrastructure industry. With Huawei's pioneering solutions and EDOTCO's expertise, we are committed to set an example in our journey towards sustainability through innovation.”
EDOTCO Bangladesh, a subsidiary of Malaysia-based EDOTCO Group, the sixth-largest telecom tower infrastructure company in the world, has consistently demonstrated its commitment to sustainable infrastructure.
The company’s dedication to sustainable practices is evident in its innovative and eco-friendly solutions, such as the Bamboo Tower, Hybrid Solar-Wind Tower, Spun Prestressed Concrete Towers, and Smart Pole Street Furniture. EDOTCO is a leading private sector in the country that has consistently worked towards achieving the SDGs through various initiatives and is committed to transparently sharing its progress in the sustainability journey.
OPPO Air Glass 3 unveiled at MWC 2024
Marking a significant breakthrough in XR, OPPO Air Glass 3 can access OPPO's AndesGPT model via a smartphone app for generative AI capabilities.
Dhaka, Mar 6 (UNB) - Leading global technology company OPPO unveiled a prototype for its new generation of assisted reality glasses, OPPO Air Glass 3, at MWC 2024. OPPO Air Glass 3 can access OPPO's AndesGPT model via a smartphone, providing a new burdenless AI experience.
Ahead of the event, OPPO also announced the establishment of the OPPO AI Center and released the OPPO AI Smartphone White Paper, marking a new era in which Smartphones transition to AI Smartphones, according to a press release on Wednesday.
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At this year's MWC, OPPO has collaborated with Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and startup AlpsenTek to introduce a new AI Motion algorithm based on Hybrid Vision Sensing (HVS) technology, bringing added clarity to photography and videography of high-speed moving objects.
Further to this, OPPO is showcasing a range of products with partners, including Google, Qualcomm Technologies, and MediaTek, and has announced that OPPO smartphone users will soon be able to connect their phones to Microsoft Copilot. reflecting OPPO's commitment to exploring enhanced technological experiences in collaboration with partners across the industry, said the release.
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Thanks to its ability to understand various data types, including text, images, video, and audio, multimodal AI technology is able to process and interpret more complex user scenarios, unlocking new potential in user interactions, such as voice and visual. While XR (extended reality) devices present new possibilities in implementing these features, they require both advanced functionality and lightweight designs if they are to truly take on the role of a personal, everyday smart assistant.
Driven by this vision, OPPO has introduced the all-new OPPO Air Glass 3 prototype to explore the possibilities of AI technology based on cross-device collaboration between XR devices and smartphones.
Weighing just 50 grams, the OPPO Air Glass 3 features a self-developed resin waveguide with a refractive index of 1.70, a display brightness uniformity of more than 50%, and a peak eye brightness of more than 1,000 nits. Together, these ensure the OPPO Air Glass 3 provides a wearing experience that is close to that of a regular pair of glasses while also providing the best full-color display of its kind. Thanks to the access to OPPO AndesGPT provided by the Air Glass APP on the smartphone, users only need to lightly press the temple of the OPPO Air Glass 3 to activate the AI voice assistant and begin performing a range of tasks.
The OPPO Air Glass 3 also supports touch interaction, which can be used to easily control functions such as music playback, voice calls, information display, color image browsing, and more. The glasses also feature reverse sound field technology, an open acoustic design with four microphones, and other innovations that improve noise isolation to deliver high audio quality and enhanced privacy protection.
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CIS-BCCI holds its annual general meeting
The 10th annual general meeting (AGM) of the Commonwealth of Independent States-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CIS-BCCI) was held on Tuesday at Dhaka Club in the city.
During the AGM, CIS-BCCI President Mohammad Ali Deen presented the annual report of 2023 and explained the future plan of the chamber along with past activities.
Rashadul Hossain Chowdhury, Senior Vice President of the chamber, presented the financial report of the chamber for the year 2023.
The general members along with the board of directors and advisers were present in the meeting and actively participated in the discussion on the annual report and audited financial report and approved it unanimously.
The Meeting ended with a vote of thanks from the Vice President of the Chamber Jadab Debnath.
The CIS-BCCI, a registered trade body under T.O Rules of Ministry of Commerce, is working to promote bilateral trade relation between Bangladesh and CIS countries including Russia.
CIS-BCCI regularly interacts with the related agencies of the government and with respective diplomatic missions to explore CIS market including Russia as the third front of our export destination after the USA and the EU, said a press release.