“The flower sector of Bangladesh has experienced an exponential growth. As flower has a large global market, we need to enter the international flower market with best quality flowers at a competitive price,” he said.
The Bida chairman further said, “If we get proper technology support, policy guidelines, research, access to finance, adequate infrastructure, modern packaging system and cold chain management, we’ll be able to brand Bangladesh as a land of flowers.”
He was addressing the inaugural ceremony of a three-day International Flower Exhibition and Conference-2018 at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) in the capital as the chief guest.
The exhibition will remain open from 10am to 8pm every day until Saturday.
Supported by USAID, Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) in association with Bangladesh Flower Society organised the event.
Additional Secretary to the Agriculture Ministry Md Abdur Rouf was present as a special guest at the opening ceremony with DCCI President Abul Kasem Khan in the chair.
Aminul Islam also underlined the importance of streamlining right regulatory policy and guidelines for the flower sector. “Besides, there should be private sector investment for the development of the flower sector,” he said, adding that an organisation named Bangladesh Flower Growers’ and Exporters’ Association could be formed to boost the flower industry.
He also urged the government to sign trade agreements with those companies who are the market leaders in the international flower industry.
DCCI President Abul Kasem Khan said in Bangladesh, the agriculture sector contributes 14.32 percent of GDP. “Flower is an important component of agriculture and is a multibillion-dollar industry in many countries.”
“The size of local flower market has reached $US150 million. Our flower export is growing over 10 percent reaching $US86,000 in 2018,” he said.
He also called upon the government to declare the flower sector as a thrust sector.
Consultant of USAID and former Agriculture Secretary Anwar Faruque urged the private sector to invest in the flower sector.
President of Bangladesh Flower Society Abdur Rahim said the flower market is of Tk 1,200 crore which remains still untapped.
USAID Director Thomas Pope said Bangladesh has achieved a robust growth in the flower sector recently, assuring all possible support from the USAID for the development of the flower industry.
DCCI Senior Vice-president Kamrul Islam, Vice-president Riyadh Hossain and its former President Mahbubur Rahman were also present there.