The recently concluded Ceramic Expo Bangladesh 2019 got export orders worth $5.5 million, proving the nation’s growth in the international ceramics industry. As per the event organizer, Bangladesh Ceramic Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BCMEA), the export orders primarily came from five countries— Italy, Brazil, India, Greece, and Sweden.

The event saw overwhelming responses from both manufacturers and buyers. The number of participants was more than double this year as compared to the previous one, said Irfan Uddin, general secretary of the association.

As per the BCMEA general secretary, this was an opportunity for global exposure of the country's leading and growing ceramic establishments, as the event brought all stakeholders of the ceramic industry under one roof. This was the second edition of the exhibition, which took place at Hotel Radisson Blue Water Garden in the capital where Salman F Rahman, Private Industry and Investment Adviser to the Prime Minister was present as the chief guest.

Inaugurated by Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi, the event saw the participation from both the local and international ceramic companies, including Mir, Monica, Shinepukur, Ferro, Johnson, where they showcased their tiles, sanitary wares, tableware, etc.

About 120 ceramic companies from 20 countries participated in the event. At present, there are a total of 60 ceramic companies with an approximate investment of Tk 8,500 crore, employing about 5 lakh people.

Once reliant on foreign products for designing their items, the majority of factories now have their own design and product development team which produces ceramic products including tiles, tableware, and sanitary goods, among others. Owing to this, these manufacturers now cater to 85-90 per cent of domestic demand and ship the finished products to around 50 countries on an average. The association also demanded 20 per cent cash incentive for the ceramic product exports.