Commercial Adviser Sheikh Bashiruddin has called on businessmen to exploit the potential of the ceramic industry as an export sector. He made this call in his speech as the chief guest at the inauguration of the “Fourth Ceramic Expo 2025” at the International Convention City Bashundhara today, Thursday (November 27, 2025).
The Commerce Adviser said, “Not just complaints, but come up with logical, acceptable and realistic proposals. The government is your helper. We are obliged to ensure your facilities. However, it must be based on fair and quality industrial conduct.”
He said, the country’s changing politics has proven that ‘connection-dependent business’ like the past will no longer work. The time is now for skills, qualifications and technology.
While the garment sector has become a major export sector in just 1 era, he asked why the ceramic sector cannot reach that level. Because we still have challenges of sustainable cost competitiveness, design innovation, logistics efficiency, productivity and energy management. We need to identify these and move towards practical solutions, he added. The fair, which began on November 27, will continue till November 30. The fair is organized by Bangladesh Ceramic Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BCMEA).
The event was chaired by BCMEA President Mainul Islam and featured special guests Antonio Alessandro, Ambassador of Italy to Bangladesh, EPB Vice Chairman Mohammad Hasan Arif, and Fair Committee Chairman and BCMEA General Secretary Irfan Uddin, who delivered the welcome address.
135 organizations and 300 brands from 25 countries including Bangladesh are participating in the Ceramic Expo. Along with them, 500 international representatives and buyers from the sector are participating. Ceramic Expo Bangladesh-2025 is the fourth international exhibition in the country and one of the largest in Asia. It will include three seminars, a job fair, B2B and B2C meetings, live demonstrations, spot orders, raffle draws and new product launches. The fair will be open to visitors from 10 am to 6 pm every day.
It is worth noting that more than 70 factories in various sectors including tableware, tiles and sanitaryware have already been established in the country. The local market for these products is about 8 thousand crore taka per year. Production and investment in this industry has increased by about 150 percent in the last 10 years. Currently, Bangladeshi ceramic products are being exported to more than 50 countries. Through this, an annual income of about 5 billion taka is generated. In total, the total investment in this industry sector has stood at more than 18 thousand crore taka. About five lakh people have been directly and indirectly employed.
