Automobiles, agro-machinery fair begins today

Business Report :

A two-day exhibition on automobiles and agro-machinery is set to begin this Saturday at the Bangladesh Chamber of Industries (BCI) office in Tejgaon, aiming to promote local production, cut reliance on imports, and open up new employment opportunities.

The event, titled “Automobiles and Agro-machinery Fair 2025 – Road to Made in Bangladesh”, will be inaugurated at 11:00 am Saturday, with Adilur Rahman Khan, Adviser to the Ministry of Industries, attending as the chief guest.

A total of 38 stalls will be set up, including 26 by companies from the sector, while others will represent supporting institutions such as BITAC, BUET, Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology, and SME-focused banks, displaying their products and services. The closing session will be held on September 21 at 3:00 pm, with Sheikh Bashir Uddin, Adviser to the Ministry of Commerce, present as chief guest.

At the press conference, BCI President Anwar-ul Alam Parvez noted that Bangladesh’s light engineering industry currently comprises around 50,000 enterprises, employing nearly one million workers.
He highlighted that the domestic market for this sector is valued at roughly US$12 billion, with local producers meeting half of the demand. With the global market worth an estimated US$8 trillion, the sector offers substantial export potential, he added.

Pointing to agricultural mechanisation, he said modern technologies could help raise productivity, create jobs, and drive export growth.

“The automobile industry, with its many sub-sectors, also holds huge promise for innovation and reducing import dependence. Fully utilising these opportunities could bring about large-scale industrial transformation in Bangladesh,” the BCI president remarked.

Two seminars will be organised during the fair-one on September 20, focusing on strengthening backward linkages for automobiles and agro-machinery, and another on September 21, highlighting global best practices and strategies Bangladesh can adopt to unlock its potential.
According to BCI leaders, the exhibition will act as a platform for entrepreneurs, policymakers, and industry professionals to discuss challenges and prospects, paving the way for policy reforms and future industrial growth.
The press briefing was also attended by Shahidul Islam Niru, S.M. Shah Alam Mukul, Dr. Delowar Hossain Raja, Zia Hayder Mithu, Shahid Alam, Nazmul Anwar, and Alimul Ahsan Chowdhury, along with AMMA-B President Nazmul Anwar.