Chief Guest Dr. Md. Jafar Uddin, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Bangladesh Foreign Trade Institute (BFTI), Chairperson Mr. Md. Obaidul Azam, Director, BFTI and Special Guest Mr. Mohammad Navid Safiullah, Additional Secretary, Export Wing, Ministry of Commerce at the validation workshop held on 10 June 2024 at the BFTI Academic Block.
BFTI has conducted a study titled ‘Export Potential of Handicraft Sector: Challenges and Way Forward' during the last quarter of FY 2023-24. The study attempted to explore the export potential and challenges of the handicraft sector of Bangladesh.
As part of the study, BFTI conducted Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) and organized a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) with policy-level officials, handicraft businesses, think tanks, academia, and other trade-related agencies.
BFTI organized a validation workshop on the draft report of the study on 10 June 2024 to validate the findings and enrich the study with the insights of the stakeholders. Dr. Md. Jafar Uddin, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), BFTI graced the occasion as the Chief Guest and Mr. Mohammad Navid Safiullah, Additional Secretary, Export Wing, Ministry of Commerce attended as the Special Guest. Mr. Md. Obaidul Azam, Director, BFTI chaired the event. Mr. S. U. Haider, President, Bangladesh Handicrafts Manufacturers and Exporters Association-BANGLACRAFT and Mr. Md. Rashedul Karim Munna, Chairman, FBCCI Standing Committee on Handicrafts, Handloom, Cottage Industries, Ethnic and Tribal Products attended the event as panel discussants. Mr. Md. Julfikar Islam, Research Manager (Research and Study), BFTI presented the draft report at the event.
Stakeholders from Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Industries, Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, Export Promotion Bureau, Small & Medium Enterprise Foundation, Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation, Bangladesh Handicrafts Manufacturers and Exporters Association-BANGLACRAFT, trade bodies, handicraft manufacturing and exporting organizations and academia attended the validation workshop and shared their remarks on the draft report.
