FBCCI President Jashim Uddin on Thursday urged the owners of furniture companies to focus on the furniture export trade.
He said that the export of furniture will benefit the furniture industry as well as contribute the export and economic growth.
He was addressing the inaugural ceremony of the 17th National Furniture Fair, this biggest event of the domestic furniture industry.
Opening on Thursday, the 5-day furniture fair will continue till October 10.
The fair is being held at the International Convention City of Bashundhara in Dhaka.
There are a total of 182 stalls of 34 institutions in the fair. The fair will run daily from 10:00 to 8:00pm, said a press release.
FBCCI President Md Jasim Uddin was present as the chief guest in the opening ceremony of the fair.
Salim H Rahman, chairman of Bangladesh Furniture Industry Owners Association, presided over the opening ceremony.
The opening of the fair was announced at Gulankasha Hall of Bashundhara International Convention City at 10:30am on Thursday.
President of Bangladesh Furniture Exporters Association and Director of FBCCI KM Aktaruzzaman was present as a special guest at the event. Bangladesh Furniture Exporters Association's Organizing Secretary A Karim Majumdar was also present.
In the 17th National Furniture Fair, a children's drawing competition was held on opening day along with the main fair.
Attractive prizes will be given to the first 10 people for drawing the best picture in the competition and each participant will get a certificate and sketchbook. The theme of the painting was, 'House like a picture'.
This fair is being held for the last 16 years. This is the 17th edition of the fair. The purpose of this fair is to develop the domestic furniture industry as well as to increase exports outside the country.
Meanwhile, the export of furniture abroad has increased significantly.
The fair will have a total of 182 stalls of 34 companies besides furniture companies like Hatil, Akhtar, Navana, Pertex, Regal, Nadia, Brothers.
Furniture worth $190.36 million has been exported in the financial year 2021-2012, which is 38.87 percent more than its previous financial year.
Currently, furniture is being exported from Bangladesh to various countries of the world such as India, Nepal, USA, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and European Union countries.
