Updated on : 20-03-2018

Furniture export maintained a steady growth in the first eight months of the current fiscal (FY2017-18) as the country exported furniture products worth $ 3.76 crore, up by 32 percent from the same period of the previous fiscal (FY17).

Furniture items worth $ 2.85 crorewere exported in July-February period of FY17.

"Our furniture products are becoming popular in different parts of the world, particularly in middle-income countries, because of innovative design, quality wood and technical skills," saidpresident of Bangladesh Furniture Exporters' Association (BFEA) KM Akhtaruzzaman.

Talking to BSS, he said the furniture industry has been able to consolidate its position indomestic market over the last ten years.

The manufacturers are now producing quality products with innovative designs, he added.

Akhtaruzzaman urged the government to reduceduty on the import of some raw materials for making the furniture product more competitive in the internal market.

According to Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), Bangladesh has a target to export furniture products worth $ 6.0 crore in FY18.

EPB director general Avijit Chowdhury said the government is offering 15 percent cash incentive to furniture exporters and steps have been taken in the 7th Five Year Plan to enlist these products as permanent export products.

(Courtesy: The Daily Observer)