Indian, Chinese firms to spot more business opportunities

LGRD Minister Md Tazul Islam visits a stall at Build Bangladesh International Expo-2019 at International Convention City Bashundhara in Dhaka yesterday. COLLECTED

CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT FAIR

Construction equipment and materials manufacturers, mainly from India and China, are exploring potential of expanding their business in the Bangladesh market. 

According to participants of Build Bangladesh International Expo-2019, demand for sustainable and quality construction was growing in sync with the country’s economic development. 

The fair is said to be showcasing the latest and innovative concepts, equipment, technologies and services related to infrastructure development of companies, including some 150 foreign ones, 70 of which are from India and 40 from China. 

The others are from Sweden, Germany, Italy, the US, Uzbekistan, the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Finland and Turkey. 

Besides, 117 local companies, including real estate entities, are exhibiting different products.

Md Tazul Islam, minister for local government, rural development and  cooperatives, inaugurated the three-day expo at International Convention  City Bashundhara.   

“We see a good market in Bangladesh as it is emphasising eco-friendly infrastructure and housing,” said Ashis Dabas, regional head (north and east) of HIL, a flagship company of CK Birla Group of Companies, India.

According to Dabas, the HIL manufactures fibre cement roofing sheets, ceiling, walling and flooring materials; partitions, doors, pre-fabricated structures, industrial insulation and low-cost housing products.The HIL is already exporting products to Nepal and African countries and with this being the first time they joined the fair, Dabas feels they should have come earlier. 

He claimed that the fibre cement roofing sheets keep inside temperatures at least 6 degrees cooler. Davesmen India, which focuses on safety products, is exhibiting equipment for vehicles such as camera monitoring systems.

Its vice president Subrat Dave told The Daily Star of hopes of having a big impact on the Bangladesh market as its products help avoid and reduce road accidents.

Michael Cheng, sales manager of Henan Yuntian Crane, said the Chinese embassy in Bangladesh informed them about export and business potential in Bangladesh.

He said a large number of infrastructure development activities were ongoing in Bangladesh where their products could be used. Acknowledging of having Bangladeshi entities among its clientele, Cheng declined divulging names as part of their business policy. 

Another fair participant is Beijing Zulin Formwork & Scaffolding, which develops, designs, processes, sells and leases out formworks and scaffoldings for projects such as industrial civil engineering, roads and bridges, hydroelectric dams and nuclear power stations.Eric, its regional manager (Southeast Asia), said their equipment were already in use at the Padma bridge project. He also sees a good future for his company in Bangladesh.

Meherun N Islam, president and group managing director of CEMS Global, the event’s organiser, said the fair would help participants build up networks involving manufacturers and stakeholders. 

Ahmad Kaikaus, senior secretary to power division, and Rezwan Ferdous Khan, general manager of Max Infrastructure, also spoke at the programme.