Bangladesh:Govt focuses on environ-friendly industrialisation: Minister

The government is in the process of formulating a comprehensive new industrial policy within this year, focusing on an environment-friendly industrialisation, said the industries minister yesterday.

“We need a cleaner environment because it is of utmost necessity to enter the competitive global market,” said Dilip Barua.

“To have a healthy environment, we need to change production processes and procedures. This change involves revising industrial policies and practices, so as to integrate environmental issues in the planning and assessment process,” he added.

He was speaking at the launching ceremony of a three-year project titled “Switch-Retie Bangladesh: Reduction of environmental threats and increase of exportability of Bangladeshi leather products”, organised by the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) at its auditorium.

Barua said the new industrial policy would focus on issues over a cleaner and safer environment, efficient use of natural resources, ensure adequate management of chemicals and reduce pollutants.

Dilip Barua, minister for industries, attends an opening conference of Switch-Asia-Retie Bangladesh, organised by DCCI and SEQUA Germany in the capital yesterday. Zafar Osman, president of the chamber, and Christiane Beck, project director of SEQUA Germany, are also seen.

“Today we have no other alternative but to use and adopt technology supporting a cleaner environment. I consider the present Switch-Asia project as an appropriate strategy to improve our leather sector,” he added.

DCCI, European Union, United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), SEQUA, Bangladesh Finished Leather, Leather Goods and Footwear Exporters Association (BFLLFEA) and BFZ are jointly implementing the scheme under the Switch-Asia programme of EU.

The EU is funding the Tk 20 crore project, where the endowment will cover the costs of technology transfer and organise further training of the national experts and sector people.

Dr Christiane Beck, project director of Switch-Asia project and Sequa, said the project aims to facilitate the local leather-based industry to sustain conversion of locally available raw hides and skins into exportable products, either directly as genuine leather or as a derived finished product.

“Such measures will create employment and income generating opportunities for the Bangladeshi people without jeopardising the livelihood of surrounding human settlements through environmental degradation, threatening their rapidly reducing water sources and agricultural land,” she said.

“This action intends to prepare SMEs from the sector to produce ecology-friendly products that are easier to export to Europe and fulfill the requirements set by European importers in line with international environmental agreements,” she added.

Zafar Osman, president of DCCI, and Ivan Kral, UNIDO representative, were also present at the programme.

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Source: The Daily Star,Dhaka