Online Desk: There is an urgent need for establishing necessary infrastructure to recycle different types of plastic waste in the country as they pollute the environment, speakers told a programme on Wednesday.

They also called for conducting more research and development works to explore the opportunities in plastic recycling which could also create new business opportunities.

They came up with the observations at the opening ceremony of the Four-day 16th Bangladesh International Plastic, Packaging and Printing Industrial Fair 2024 or IPF 2024.

Bangladesh Plastic Goods Manufacturers & Exporters Association (BPGMEA) and Yorkers Trade & Marketing Service Company Limited organised the show at the International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB) in Purbachal.

Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun attended the event as the chief guest while State Minister for Commerce Ahsanul Islam Titu was special guest.

Senior Secretary to the Commerce Ministry Tapan Kanti Ghosh, Senior Vice President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry Amin Helaly, Project Director of the EC4J Project Monsurul Alam, BPGMEA President Shamim Ahmed, and Private Sector Specialist at the World Bank Bangladesh Hosna Ferdous Sumi spoke on the occasion, among others.

Speaking on the occasion, Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun said, “The fair will play a vital role in the development of the plastic sector.”

He also said the government is working to establish a dedicated plastic and printing industrial estate to help the sector grow in the country.

State Minister for Commerce Ahsanul Islam Titu said plastic is one of the prime sectors as an alternative to the apparel to diversify the country’s export basket.

Highlighting the importance of plastic goods for the development, he said developing new eco-friendly products is now crucial.

“Focus more on recycling of plastic goods as there is no way to prevent their use for the country’s development,” he said.

BPGMEA President Shamim Ahmed said, “There is no denying of the growing use of plastics with the development though there are environmental issues.

Per capita plastic use per year in the developed country like the United States is around 150kg, he said, adding that the figure is around 50 kg in Bangladesh’s urban area.

Highlighting proper management of plastic waste, he said the city authorities should play a time-befitting role in establishing plastic materials recycling facilities.

The BPGMEA president said the country’s plastic manufacturers get all required support from all government agencies concerned except the National Board of Revenue (NBR).

“They (NBR) don’t try to understand our problems,” he said.

Welcoming the fair, FBCCI’s Amin Helaly said the country’s printing and packaging industry is also growing fast and playing a vital role in the development of the export oriented industry.

According to the organisers, representatives from 20 countries include China, Taiwan, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Vietnam, Indonesia, South Korea, UK, USA, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Turkey, and the UAE are participating in the fair.

The major event hosts 800 stalls of 600 foreign companies and 161 stalls of 54 domestic companies.

The Financial Express is the media partner of the IPF-2024 along with four other media outlets.