Packaging industry can reach $50b exports with right policies: Amir Khasru

Bangladesh’s packaging industry has the potential to reach $50 billion in exports if proper policy support is provided, said Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, a BNP Standing Committee member and former commerce minister.

If the BNP is able to form the next government, adequate policies will be formulated to support the sector, he added.

Referring to the success of the apparel sector, Amir Khasru said that if Bangladesh’s garment industry can achieve exports worth $50 billion, the packaging industry can also reach the same milestone, provided it receives sufficient attention and policy backing.

He made the remarks on Wednesday while addressing the inauguration ceremony of GTB 2026 (Garment Technology Bangladesh) as the chief guest. GTB is the country’s largest garment technology exhibition.

The four-day exhibition, jointly organised by ASK Trade & Exhibitions Pvt Ltd and the Bangladesh Garments Accessories & Packaging Manufacturers & Exporters Association (BGAPMEA), began on Wednesday at the Expo Village of the International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB).

“The global packaging market is enormous, but Bangladesh remains an over-regulated country for doing business, which makes entrepreneurship extremely difficult,” Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said. “At the same time, a group of corrupt business oligarchs has emerged under political patronage. We want to ensure a level playing field for all businesses.”

“Today, packaging often attracts more attention than the product itself. Consumers are increasingly influenced by packaging when making purchasing decisions, making it a highly promising sector,” he added.

He said Bangladesh has already secured a strong position in the global apparel market, but sustaining this growth will require moving beyond labour-intensive production.

“To remain competitive, the industry must embrace technological advancement, smart manufacturing and environmentally sustainable solutions. Skill development of the workforce must also be prioritised through coordinated efforts by both the government and the private sector,” he noted.

Addressing the event as a distinguished guest, BKMEA President Mohammad Hatem said the country’s accessories industry has the capacity to meet the requirements of local apparel manufacturers.

He urged the government to impose restrictions on imports of accessories that are already produced locally in sufficient quantity and quality to meet industry demand.

BGAPMEA President Md Shahriar said Bangladesh is missing out on untapped opportunities in the global packaging market—estimated at around $700 billion—due to inadequate policy support and the absence of export incentives.

He said the packaging and accessories sector has already demonstrated strong export capacity, with direct exports nearing $1.6 billion and deemed exports exceeding $7.8 billion. However, the industry has been unable to scale up further because of persistent policy and regulatory constraints.

Despite growing global demand for packaging products, Bangladesh has struggled to secure a meaningful share of the market, mainly because no cash incentive is available for direct exports, along with other structural barriers, he added.

“Packaging products exported directly from Bangladesh are not eligible for any cash incentive, whereas countries such as China, Vietnam, Cambodia and Indonesia offer incentives ranging from 4.0 per cent to 17 per cent,” he said, noting that the sector has never been brought under any export incentive scheme, weakening its global competitiveness.

Special guests at the event included NBR Chairman Md Abdur Rahman Khan, FCMA. Other distinguished guests were BGMEA Acting President Salim Rahman and Bangladesh Association of Banks (BAB) Chairman Abdul Hai Sarker.

GTB 2026 is showcasing a wide range of state-of-the-art garment machinery, accessories, packaging solutions, yarn and fabrics, creating significant opportunities for local manufacturers to access advanced technologies under one roof.

Alongside GTB 2026, two other major exhibitions are being held concurrently—GAPExpo 2026, the largest garments accessories and packaging exhibition in Bangladesh, and Bangladesh Yarn Fabrics & Accessories 2026.

More than 450 brands from over 15 countries are participating in the exhibitions, displaying their products across 1,500 booths, making it the largest garment technology event in the country.

Tipu Sultan Bhuiyan, managing director of ASK Trade & Exhibitions Pvt Ltd, said technological transformation is no longer optional for Bangladesh’s garment industry.

“GTB provides a unique platform where entrepreneurs can explore the latest global innovations and directly source technologies best suited for their factories, helping them enhance efficiency and sustainability,” he said.

The exhibition will remain open to visitors until January 17, from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm daily.

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