Written by The Banking Post
Obtaining accreditation from importing countries is vital for Bangladesh to fully tap the export potential of its Geographical Indication (GI) products, Industries Secretary Obaidur Rahman has said.
Speaking at the 10th SME Development Working Committee meeting of Business Initiative Leading Development (BUILD) on Thursday, Mr Rahman noted that while Bangladeshi products are not inferior in quality, they often face hurdles at foreign ports due to a lack of recognised certification.
“A GI tag alone will not suffice unless we build understanding with certification bodies in importing nations,” he stressed.
He also highlighted the need for strong visual documentation to assert ownership and enhance visibility of GI products, along with creating producer platforms to improve market readiness.
Since 2016, Bangladesh has registered 60 GI products — including Jamdani, Muslin, Hilsa, and Khirsapat mangoes — but most applications have been government-driven, limiting producer ownership and commercial gains, according to a keynote by BUILD Research Director Dr Wasel Bin Shadat.
The presentation urged the government and private sector to introduce a GI Tag User Policy, sector-specific strategies, certification and traceability systems, and bilateral agreements to manage trans-border GIs.
Dr Shadat also recommended prioritising 5-10 high-potential GI products with clear export targets, alongside investment in branding, R&D, awareness, financing, and capacity building for producers.
Officials from MoI, DCCI, IP Forum, and other agencies joined the meeting, which focused on boosting the commercial impact of Bangladesh’s GI-certified goods.
