Jagaran Chakma

Television sales in Bangladesh increase whenever a world cup, whether it be cricket or football, takes place. So, TV makers and retailers usually witness a festive mood during such events and the 2022 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup and FIFA World Cup will be no different.

Cement makers are passing tough times amidst a decline in demand from public construction in tune with the government’s austerity measures and sluggish private initiatives on building homes and other facilities for inflation.

Local manufacturers now control 90 per cent of the once import-heavy prefabricated steel market thanks to capacity building and an increase of skilled manpower, according to industry insiders.

Real estate companies in Bangladesh are cautiously taking up new projects as the war in Ukraine, the strain on foreign currency reserves, the dollar shortage, runaway inflation and higher construction costs have cemented worries that sales of flats might slow in the coming months.

The demand for motorcycle has remained between 4 lakhs to 5 lakhs units during the last few years due to the prolonged economic impact of Covid-19 in the last two years.

Manufacturers and retailers are hopping to see a rise in demand of refrigerators since the country is rapidly recovering from the impacts of Covid-19 pandemic.

The parliament yesterday enacted Bangladesh Patents Bill 2022, aiming to make a century-old patents law more time-befitting and safeguard intellectual property rights.

Bangladesh has been Indian multinational consumer goods company Marico’s first international venture. The business is today is so successful that one out of two Bangladeshis uses its products every day. Ashish Goupal, who took over as managing director of Marico Bangladesh Ltd, in July 2018 speaks about his company’s success and future plans in an interview with The Daily Star.

Around 65 per cent Japanese companies operating in Bangladesh think that they would be able to make a profit in 2022 as the coronavirus pandemic situation has improved, according to a survey of the Japan External Trade Organisation (Jetro).

Flats in Bangladesh witnessed a fresh price increase as realtors are being forced to pass on the increased construction cost to customers arising out of soaring prices of steel, cement, bricks and other materials.

The government is keen to open Ramgarh land port in Khagrachhari by 2023 in order to boost trade with north-eastern states of India, according to officials of the Bangladesh Land Port Authority (BLPA).

The education sector and the printing industry have been dealt a major blow no sooner had they begun to make a comeback from two-year-long closures and business slowdown owing to the coronavirus pandemic.

The price of steel in Bangladesh has jumped 3.34 per cent within a span of just one week, with manufacturers citing it as a ripple effect of rising global demand for scrap and a recent hike of local fuel prices.

In only a few years, property solutions provider Bproperty has created a branch of the real estate industry focused on the trade of second hand flats. Mark Nosworthy, CEO of Bproperty, sat with The Daily Star to express his views on the country’s real estate sector and how Bproperty fits into the big picture.

Berger Fosroc Ltd, a joint venture of Berger Paints Bangladesh and Fosroc International Ltd, yesterday opened a construction chemicals plant to cater for the growing domestic market for chemicals and cut import dependence.

Medicine exports to the developed countries are steadily growing riding on the attainment of regulatory approval from the US, European and some other countries helped by Bangladesh’s capacity to produce high-quality drugs at affordable prices.

The price of aluminium products in the domestic markets has increased abnormally in the last couple of weeks due to the rising cost of raw materials at the international level, according to industry insiders.

The market for light commercial vehicles (LCVs) is growing steadily thanks to the rising number of small and medium enterprises and young entrepreneurs running businesses all over Bangladesh, according to market players.

The government’s jute diversification plan is a good initiative but its implementation has been slow due to a lack of technology, skilled manpower and relevant research, according to industry insiders.

Rising  freight rates globally for demand recovery and supply disruptions as  well as an increase in transport costs locally owing to a hike in diesel  prices have made it difficult for small-scale cement manufacturers to  compete in Bangladesh.