Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina hands over National Export Trophy to 77 exporters in 32 sectors for fetching the highest export earnings in FY2021-2022. In photos (from left): Sajid Azad, director of Ha-Meem Group, receives the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Export Trophy for earning the highest from exports. Ahsan Khan Chowdhury (right-top), chairman and CEO of Pran-RFL Group, and SM Nurul Alam Rezvi, former chairman and current director of Walton Hi-Tech Industries (right bottom), receive export trophies at the ceremony at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka yesterday. Photo: Ha-meem Group, Pran-RFL and Walton.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday asked all concerned to target the markets of the Middle East, Africa, Asian countries and East Europe to diversify Bangladesh’s exports.

“We do not want to limit ourselves to a few export items, but to expand exports and diversify our export items,” she said.

The premier made the remarks as the chief guest while handing over National Export Trophy for fiscal year 2021-22 to 77 top exporters in 32 categories at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka.

She said the economies of the US and European countries are under pressure as inflation has increased and the purchasing power of people has declined.

“So, pay attention to these countries,” she said regarding the Middle East, Africa, Asia and East Europe as the next export destinations.

The prime minister asked to find out the need and demand for products for specific countries and diversify exports accordingly.

“We will no longer be limited with only readymade garment (RMG) as it will not have the same demand forever,” she said.

She urged for shifting designs and modifying products to adapt to changing trends.

The prime minister also highlighted the export potential of digital information technologies as they are in high demand worldwide.

Apart from these, pharmaceuticals, leather and leather goods, jute and jute goods, agriculture and food processing items, fruits, frozen fish, including shrimp, and crafts can be exported abroad, she said.

“Jute is environmentally friendly and there is nothing which can’t be produced from the jute,” she said, adding that Bangladesh can earn a huge amount of foreign currency exporting jute items.

She said a revolution has taken place in the agriculture sector in Bangladesh, and diversification can lead to agricultural exports.

The prime minister reiterated her call to pursue economic diplomacy alongside the political one to make the country financially secure.

She highlighted the massive developments in rural areas that has raised the purchasing power and living standards of people at the grassroots.

Addressing the award recipients, she said the recognition would encourage them to export more and contribute to the economy.

State Minister for Commerce Ahasanul Islam Titu, the ministry’s Parliamentary Standing Committee Chairman Tipu Munshi, Commerce Secretary Md Selim Uddin, Export Promotion Bureau Vice Chairman Md Anwar Hossain, and Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry President Mahbubul Alam spoke on the occasion.

A documentary on export business was screened at the function.