President  Abdul Hamid on Thursday called for considering the state of environment while going for establishment of factories and industrial enterprises.

“We need to be careful about the environment alongside industrialisation," he said in a recorded video speech at a function to recognise 19 industrial houses with "President's Industrial Development Award-2019" at Osmani Memorial Auditorium.

The President underlined the importance of product diversification along with making quality products.

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"At the time of the 'Fourth Industrial Revolution' with increasing use of new technologies worldwide, domestic industrial products are facing a tough competition in the international market . . . So, we must ensure quality products simultaneously bring diversification in production," he said.

He also asked the industrial entrepreneurs to take necessary steps to ensure the workers' welfare.

"Workers' hard effort and efficiency are essential to increase productivity . . . For this, the owner-worker friendly relationship is very crucial," he said

Referring to domestic and overseas investments here, he said employment is very important for development but it is not possible for the government alone to provide employment to this huge population.

President Hamid said domestic and foreign investments are essential for creating huge employment opportunities.

He said the current government is working to create 100 economic zones for domestic and foreign investors. It is aimed to create employment opportunities for 10 million people, simultaneously an additional US Dollar 40 billion export earnings target.

Terming Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as a worthy successor of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the President said her government has taken various initiatives to expand industrialization, trade and investment in Bangladesh in the last one decade.

"The trend of industrialization of Bangladesh is moving forward in the light of Bangabandhu's economic philosophy," he added.

He said Bangladesh is one of the most attractive investment destinations in South Asia because of entrepreneur-friendly environment.

"The government undertook pragmatic steps in this regard, including development of communication infrastructure, increase in productivity in industry, diversification of export products, determination of investment friendly tax and tariff structure and special incentives for foreign direct investment,” he said.

The President congratulated the 19 award recipients -- esteemed industrial establishments and industrialists under six categories -- for their outstanding contribution to the national economy.

"This initiative would further consolidate the ongoing trend of knowledge-based industrialization and make a positive contribution to the overall national economic progress in days to come," he hoped.

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Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun distributed the award in the categories of large, medium, small, micro, cottage and high-tech categories.

BRB Cable Industries Ltd and British American Tobacco Bangladesh Company jointly took 1st place in the category of large industries while Mir Ceramic Ltd took 2nd place, and Jaber and Jobayer Fabrics Ltd stood 3rd in the same category.

Bengal Polymer Wares Ltd and Noman Terry Towel Mills Ltd took 1st and 2nd place respectively in the medium industry category while Coco-Tex Ltd and Crimson Rosella Sea Jude Ltd stood 3rd jointly.

In the small industry category, Promi Agro Foods Ltd came 1st while Madhobdi Dyeing Finishing Mills Ltd came 2nd, and APS Holding Ltd came 3rd.

On the other hand, in the micro-industry category, Moscow Dairy Enterprise came 1st, Khan Bakelite Products came 2nd, and Raven Agro Chemicals came 3rd position.

CORR-The Loot Works came 1st in the cottage industry category, and Samsunnahar Textile Mills came 2nd.l while Walton Hi-Tech Industries Ling came 1st, Information Technology Consultants Ltd came 2nd, and Summit Communications Ltd came 3rd In the hi-tech industry category.

Planning Minister MA Mannan and State Minister for Industries Kamal Ahmed Majumder also spoke in the programme.