Pran-RFL Group, country's leading business conglomerate, has targeted to export products worth $1 billion by 2025 and $2 billion by 2030.
To achieve this, the Pran-RFL group, the most diversified exporter of the country, wants to export all the products it manufactures abroad.
However, the company exported worth $532 million in the 2021-22 fiscal year.
Ahsan Khan Chowdhury, chairman and chief executive officer of the Pran-RFL Group, was speaking at a press event titled “25 years of Pran-RFL export: Taking Bangladesh to the world” at a hotel in the capital on Sunday.
Ahsan Khan Chowdhury said that their products are now competing with well-known brands of different countries and are being placed in famous chain shops, which is a matter of great pride for the country.
Pran-RFL Group products are available in chain stores including Walmart, Carrefour, Loblaws, Aldi, Lidl, Mydin, Dollarama and Tesco, he added.
He also said that about 80% of Bangladesh's export earnings come from the garment sector and that is why the Prime Minister has repeatedly laid emphasis on diversifying the export sector.
“This is the time to diversify the country’s export basket and Pran-RFL Group wants to be the frontrunner in this endeavor,” he added.
In response to the question about the targets set, he said food items, plastic goods and bicycles will be the main components of their export basket, not RMG.
Regarding plastic pollution, he said that they are using 25% recycled plastic, their target is to use 100% recycled plastic eventually.
“We receive used plastics at all Best Buy outlets, and then recycle it,” he added.
He further responded that among the non-RMG export sectors, leather and leather goods, and processed food sector are leading.
Responding to a question from a journalist, he replied that the government's policy support is fully export oriented.
“But there are opportunities to work with some sectors including ports, infrastructure, and development of efficiency. Moreover, it is also important to change the mentality of entrepreneurs, they have to be more ambitious and to set big targets,” he added.
Responding to another question, he said that Pran is now exporting more than 1000 products to different countries of the world.
“Different issues related to standards arise in different countries, and Pran takes measures according to the required rules and regulations,” he responded.
He said that more than 3000 Bangladeshis are working for Pran in different countries of the world and they are thinking of setting up factories abroad through proper licensing.
Appreciating the initiatives of the prime minister’s austerity measures, he said that in this situation, everyone should be aware of the use of electricity and fuel and must do their part.
“But the industry must be kept operational to avoid any economic crises. So, the supply of gas, fuel and electricity should be consistent for the manufacturing sector. Moreover, unnecessary imports should be completely eliminated,” he added.
Responding to another question, he said that the main challenge in increasing exports is company expansion. For this, initiatives should be taken to increase investment.
“We need to make export growth sustainable. The ongoing Ukraine crisis has slowed our growth somewhat,” he added.
He said that the standard of the products – for domestic usage and for exports – are the same.
“Nothing is 100% perfect, perfection comes from effort and sincerity and we are doing these,” he added.
Asked if Pran's entry into the marginal level has destroyed small traders or not, he said Pran is moving forward with everyone.
“38000 distributors and one million grocery stores are working with Pran. 100,000 contract farmers are working on our agriculture projects,” he added.
In response to the question on which market they focus more, he said that they are focusing on the Asean market.
“Now signing free trade agreements with destination countries is very important to catch exports,” he added.
He also said that they have plans to export Pran-RFL products to every country in the world.
In that case, there will be a lot of employment opportunities in the country. If there are any obstacles, they plan to manufacture products in at least four to five places around the world, subject to approval from the government, he added.
Founded in 1981, Pran-RFL started its export activities in 1997 by sending products to France.
Currently, the group is exporting food and non-food products regularly to 145 countries around the world including India, Nepal, Australia, United Kingdom, France, Netherlands, Italy, Canada, USA, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Malaysia, Bolivia, South Africa, Kenya and Ethiopia.
Kamruzzaman Kamal, director (Marketing) at Pran-RFL Group, Touhiduzzaman, head of Public Relations and high officials of the group were present at the event.
