was a magnificent event for the Ceramic Industry with participation of all the key players in the ceramic market. It was an event for business interaction and social gathering of the ceramic industry that brought all the ceramic manufacturers, foreign raw material suppliers, importers, buyers, dealers, architects and common visitors under a single roof to enjoy a world class exhibition experience and see state-of-art ceramics. It was a 3-day-long celebration of the exhibitors and visitors to explore the ceramics world.
With the tagline ‘Promise of Perfection’, Akij Ceramics Ltd. patronised the 3rd Ceramic Expo as the Principal Sponsor. The company had sponsored the event for the 3rd time in a row which was a grand event of the ceramics world in Bangladesh. The largest ceramic brand of the country showcased its tiles, tableware and sanitaryware in the event. Under the name of Akij Ceramics the company displayed its tiles under Akij Ceramics & AURA, tableware under Akij Tableware and sanitaryware products under the brand of ROSA in their pavilion at Hall 4 of Novoratri at ICCB. They showcased all the new innovation and products to attract their customers and make them aware of their product range.
It was a great opportunity for the organisation to showcase all of their brands under a single platform and interact with their business partners, suppliers, dealers and fellow companies under the same industry. With the gracious presence of 23,000+ visitors the event has positively impacted on the business. In the event of Ceramic Expo, the prime goal of Akij Ceramics was to bring the new products of all the tiles, tableware and sanitaryware segments. The company is looking forward to reducing import of ceramic products by boosting economic growth and development of the industry.
The iconic business leader of AkijBashir Group, Mr. Sk Bashir Uddin along with the brand managers and company representatives were present at the event. The Pavilion was the biggest of all and they had decorated it with their products to present to the target customers and created their own unique impression among the crowd.
All the visitors were mesmerised with their product collection and variety and also interacted with the company people present there. Mr. Mohammed Khourshed Alam, Director Operations of AkijBashir Group, expressed enthusiasm about ceramic expo in an interview and their expectation from the overall event was to show their brand strength and collect feedback from the customers.
To connect with the visitors more actively, Akij Ceramics provided special offers on spot orders in the expo, instant gift packs and also provided gifts for the social media contest winners. At the event famous celebrity actress Bidya Sinha Saha Mim graced the event with her presence on the second day of the expo. The visitors had enjoyed the meet and greet session with Bidya Sinha Saha Mim and she enjoyed her visit to the pavilion and explored products of Akij Ceramics to explore uniqueness of the brands to promote the best products of the company.
In the Ceramic Expo Bangladesh, 2022 under the category of best pavilion, Akij Ceramics Ltd. was awarded with second prize on the Exhibitors Night in the Jury Board Choice Award. The award was presented based on well scale, openness, visitor friendliness, product display etc.
Akij Ceramics always believes in perfection that comes with the impression of revival, renewal and diverse innovations in their product design, quality, elegance and uniqueness. It was a great experience for them to become the principal sponsor at the event and explore new business opportunities along with world class experience of displaying ceramic tiles, tableware and sanitaryware to the visitors of home and abroad. AkijBashir Group thanked BCMEA, organiser of the event for such an impressive arrangement of the event and expects to have even better event arrangement in upcoming years. Written by Preety Dey
The origin of pottery in Bangladesh dates back to the later or post Mohenjo-daro and Harappa civilization and to the Indo-Aryan Vedic age, according to the research on ceramic earthenware and artifacts found after excavation of the ruins in Mahasthangarh of Bogura and Wari-Bateshwar in Narsingdi. Discoveries in Wari-Bateshwar included two millennium old potteries and terracotta. The potters then used traditional methods to make water vessels and sculptures for worshipping and as household utensils and showpieces. In the medieval age, the potters were popularised by the Hindu and Buddhist rulers and zamindars when they used to make statues of gods and goddesses, Buddha, plates, other aesthetical items and terracotta plaques in the temples and monasteries. The potters made everyday household items for sale in the local markets to earn a living. In the past century, the white clay deposits were first found in Mymensingh, Sylhet and Netrokona, the largest of which was discovered at Bijoypur of Mymensingh in 1957. Since the discovery of the white clay reserves in Bangladesh, the ceramic industry has come a long way. ‘Ceramic’ comes from the Greek word meaning ‘Pottery’. The journey of ceramics started through pottery and was initially only a mixture of inorganic, non-metallic clay which could be heated at very high temperature to make it hold its shape. Since then, mankind has found multifarious uses for this clay and the quality of the clay has been improved. Ceramic in this era has much hardness and strength, is heat resistant, is a good insulator, unreactive to other chemicals and long-lasting and hard-wearing. Among its many uses, the ceramics industry started in Bangladesh with just the manufacture of tableware and now covers four broad subsectors: Tableware, Tiles, Sanitary ware and Ceramic Bricks. A brief review of the journey of ceramics in Bangladesh is portrayed below. In 1959 the industry took its nascent steps with only one small tableware manufacturing plant in Bogura, Tajma Ceramic Industries Ltd. Tajma Ceramics is the first ceramic earthenware plant to produce porcelain tableware using traditional methods. In 1962, Mirpur Ceramic Works Ltd in Dhaka started to produce heavy clay products using German plant and technology and developed a reputation of manufacturing best quality ceramic bricks in the subcontinent. In 1966, Peoples Ceramic Industries Ltd, formerly known as Pakistan Ceramic Industries, located in Tongi, Gazipur, started production using modern porcelain tableware manufacturing technology procured from Japan. They started exporting their products In 1974, the country’s first non-heavy clay building ceramic plant came on the stream, Dacca Ceramic & Sanitary-wares Ltd. The company was the first to start production of sanitary ware at Tongi, Gazipur. In 1985, Monno Ceramic Industries Ltd transformed and revolutionised the exports of local ceramic products by branding Bangladesh ceramic products on an international level, using West European and Japanese plants and machinery. Monno Ceramic is the first industry to use ultra-modern technologies to produce porcelain tableware aimed at exporting worldwide. Later it added its bone china tableware unit also aimed at improving the exports of ceramic tableware from Bangladesh. In 1986, Bangladesh Insulator & Sanitary ware Factory Ltd. (BISF) started manufacture of ceramic tiles at Mirpur, Dhaka, with Czech machinery and technology. In the same year, Bengal Fine Ceramics Ltd, the first stoneware tableware manufacturer in Bangladesh, located in Dhaka, entered the domestic and international markets. In 1992, with the exponentially growing ceramic industry, a nationally recognised trade organisation of manufacturers and exporters of ceramic tableware, pottery, tiles, sanitary ware, insulator and other ceramic products was formed, called Bangladesh Ceramic Manufacturers & Exporters Association (BCMEA) In 1993, Madhumati Tiles Ltd. became the country’s first tile manufacturer to use modern German and Italian technologies to produce the latest standard ceramic tiles that domestic consumers see and use at present. In 1999, Shinepukur Ceramics Ltd. started production of porcelain and bone china tableware with Japanese, German and French machinery and technology. It earned a reputation for being one of the major exporters in Asia. Ceramic Industry Scenario (FY 2021-22) An industrial revolution has resulted in a burgeoning Ceramic Industry since the start of its journey with just one small tableware manufacturing plant. Today, there are more than 70 ceramic manufacturers in operation in the country with core products being tiles, tableware, sanitary ware and bricks. As the country experiences steady economic growth and urbanisation, the local demand for ceramic products too continues to grow. These ceramic bricks, tiles and sanitary ware have been used in several mega projects by the government to ensure overall infrastructural development. The growth trend is an indication of the industry’s potential to be one of the top foreign exchange earners. And the tableware made in Bangladesh, both Bone China and Porcelain, is famous around the world for its eminent quality and design. Here is a snapshot of Bangladesh’s ceramic industry: Quality Raw Materials: The exponential growth in the ceramic sector is owing to the high-quality ceramic products manufactured in Bangladesh. The ceramic sector has the availability of uninterrupted Sulphur-free natural gas and the latest cutting-edge technologies imported from Germany, which make our products shinier and more durable. The glaze and pigments are lead and cadmium-free and 100 per cent halal ingredients are used in the production process. The other factor in favour of the industry flourishing is the relatively low labour cost yet availability of skilled manpower. The direct manpower involvement in the industry is about 52,000 whilst the indirect involvement is over half a million. The industry is considerably compassionate towards the women and people with disability. The industry works to train women and physically challenged workers for inclusivity. Around 20 per cent of the workforce is highly-skilled women. Today owing to these favourable conditions, the industry is distinguished around the world. Investment: The total investment, both local and international, in the industry is about US$ 1.70 billion. The investment share of tiles is 62 per cent, tableware 23 per cent and sanitary ware 15 per cent. The sector has lured foreign investment mainly from China and the Middle East. These
In today’s globalised world, trade is considered the lifeline of a nation. Not only does it contribute to flourishing an economy, but it a so allows cultural integration promoting enrichment and development at both micro and macro level. It allows for technology transfer, presenting the nations lagging behind with opportunity to gain momentum for attaining growth. And the global community acknowledging its significance and impact has devised various tactics to encourage trade. To this end, international exhibitions have proved to be one of the most fruitful approaches time and again. The international community lauds and celebrates such exhibitions that bring industrialists from different corners of the globe onto a common platform, for a common purpose, promoting trade. In Bangladesh, the ceramic industry is one of the burgeoning manufacturing sectors. As the country experiences steady economic growth and urbanisation, the local demand for ceramic products too continues to grow. Catering to 75 per cent of the local demand, the sector also exports quality products to many countries, thanks to its exquisite designs and multifarious functionalities. The industry has seen production growth of 200 per cent in the past 10 years. The growth trend is an indication of the industry’s potential to be one of the top foreign exchange earners in the country. The total investment, both local and international, in the sector is about US$1.58 billion with tiles accounting for 62 per cent, tableware 23 per cent and sanitaryware 15 per cent of the share respectively. The ceramic sector has made a significant contribution to the country’s GDP with exports worth over US$50 million in the 2020-21 fiscal year. Even though this export level is owed to the high-quality products manufactured here in Bangladesh, it is also owing to the flexibility in Minimum Order Quantity, capability to export in bulks and the GSP facilities that Bangladesh enjoys. The industry has seen production growth of 200 per cent in the past 10 years. The total investment, both local and international, in the sector is about US$1.58 billion with exports worth over US$50 million in the fiscal year 2020-21. Bangladesh ceramics have touched the lives of many high-profile users. It has carved its place in the Buckingham Palace of the Great Britain, the British Parliament, the Presidential Palaces of India and Pakistan, the Royal Palace of Bhutan and many more. Our global buyers from different parts of the world are: USA: Crate&Barrel, Libbey, Pottery Barn, Williams-Sonoma, Michael Aram, 10 Strawberry Street UK: Royal Doulton, Wedgwood, Portmeirion Group, Rosenthal, Goodfellows, Churchill, waitrose, Sophie Conran, Jersey Pottery, John Lewis EUROPE: ZARA Home, Monoprix, Villeroy & Boch, XXXLUTZ, loria, Rosendahl, LPP, Habitat, Taitu, H&M, Kasanova, Migros, Schonhuber Franchi Asia: Noritake, Good Earth, DLF, ICA, Pure, Westside, INV Home Currently Bangladesh exports to over 50 countries, which are: The USA, Canada, the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Sweden, Switzerland, Norway, Greece, Ireland, the Netherlands, Spain, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Poland, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Russian Federation, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Egypt, Libya, Turkey, Jordan, Iran, Qatar, Oman, Syria, Lebanon, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, India, the Maldives, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, Argentina, Chili, Peru, Colombia, and Brazil. Bangladesh is exploring beyond the traditional usage of ceramics and tapping into a much wider array of applications, namely Advanced Ceramics. The value-added features of Advanced Ceramics allow it to be used to address issues like energy conservation, water purification, electronic and biomedical applications. Companies and universities are coming together getting deep into research and development to explore the potential of advanced ceramics as global market for these products is experiencing a high growth momentum which comes as an opportunity for the ceramics community. But to make use of this, it is essential to be exposec to the modern cutting-edge technologies used in production It is important to transfer technology on a global scale to meet the burgeoning demand for ceramics in all its forms. And to promote technology transfer and improve global trade performance, several international ceramic expos are held around the world. Advanced ceramics is also being manufactured on a mass scale which has a lot of potential not only in the markets but also in the lives of people. The 3rd edition of the state-of-the-art international trade fair and B2B platform for ceramic industries around the world, Ceramic Expo Bangladesh-2022 is scheduled to take place from 24-26 November 2022. This year the expo will be bigger and cover four halls of International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCBI on Purbachal Expressway, Dhaka. Living up to its motto ‘Gateway to Explore Ceramics World’, the Ceramic Expo offers just that to the industry. It attracts an impressive gathering of international manufacturers, suppliers, experts and delegates promoting trade. This year the expo will host 120 exhibitors from 20 countries who will showcase their finest ceramic products and top-tier technology emerging in the world of ceramics. Some 200 hosted buyers and 150 brands from both home and abroad will participate and about 500 delegates are expected to join from different parts of the world. Industry leaders like Akij, Sheltech, DBL, Stella, Mir, DLT, SACMI, CBC, Shinepukur, FARR, ABG, Astral, Bridge Chemie, Foshan, Floorex, Modena Technology, Monte Bianco, NJC, and Torrecid will showcase tiles, sanitaryware, tableware, advanced ceramics and machinery. There will be multiple insightful seminars and B2B meetings among local and international delegates on the advancement and potential of ceramics globally. In the next five years, about 20 new companies are in the pipeline to be introduced to this rapidly growing sector. Export is predicted to rise up to around US$100 million and investment will grow to become US$1.0 billion. The future of the ceramic sector in Bangladesh looks very promising in the coming years. Special investment is being made to enhance the skill-set of the workers involved in the ceramic sector. The use of modern technology also keeps on growing and so does the procurement of quality raw materials. Advanced ceramics is also being manufactured on a mass scale which has a lot of potential not only in the
Ceramic Expo 2022 was a remarkable event for the ceramic industry to explore new business opportunities for exhibitors and visitors. It was a 3-day-long event with more than 25,000 visitors and an excellent arrangement by the organiser, Bangladesh Ceramic Manufacturers and Exporters’ Association (BCMEA).
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