HSBC launches 10th Export Excellence Awards, urges export diversification

Highlights

• Awards recognise exporters beyond garments and textiles
• Emerging sectors urged to expand global operations
• Exporters can apply across four award categories
• Nomination deadline set for 20 September 2026

HSBC Bangladesh today (18 August) launched the 10th edition of its Export Excellence Awards, with its chief executive urging businesses in emerging sectors to scale up internationally and help diversify the country's export base.

Speaking at the launch event at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Dhaka, HSBC Bangladesh CEO Md Mahbub ur Rahman said exports have a "multiplier impact" on the economy by generating employment and foreign exchange while also helping attract investment.

"Export diversification has been talked about for a long time, and rightfully so," he said, warning that excessive reliance on a single sector creates vulnerability and increases economic volatility.

Mahbub said Bangladesh should continue building on the competitive advantage developed by its garments and textile industry while identifying other sectors where the country has, or can develop, a competitive edge.

"Any concentration, if that concentration becomes too high, it also creates vulnerability," he said.

The HSBC CEO noted that the awards have recognised 40 companies over the past nine years, including 20 from garments and textiles and 20 from other industries.

He said the experience demonstrates that export excellence exists beyond the ready-made garment (RMG) sector, but businesses in these sectors need to scale up.

"Other than garments and textile, maybe hardly one or two sectors have reached the billion-dollar mark. And then, it's a huge gap," he said.

According to HSBC, exporters can nominate themselves for the 2026 awards across four categories: ready-made garments with annual export revenue of $100 million or above; RMG backward linkage with export revenue of $50 million or above; non-traditional and emerging manufacturing sectors with export revenue of $10 million or above; and non-traditional and emerging services sectors with export revenue of $5 million or above.

The programme is open to all enterprises and entrepreneurs operating in Bangladesh and does not require participants to be HSBC customers. There is no entry fee.

Mahbub said the awards platform was designed to showcase Bangladeshi businesses that have demonstrated excellence in global markets and draw policymakers' attention to practices that could potentially be replicated across the economy.

He also highlighted the role of exports in attracting investment, saying trade and investment tend to reinforce each other.

Referring to the RMG sector, he said Bangladesh initially developed its export industry around cutting and making but subsequently built a broader ecosystem involving fabric, yarn and other backward-linkage industries.

"I believe the other sectors will follow the same," he said.

Mahbub said investment decisions depend heavily on safety, stability and returns.

A stable currency and stronger export ecosystem, he argued, can improve economic stability and help insulate investors from currency-related risks.

"Return can be compromised, but the safety of the capital, the consistency, stability of the economy is paramount," he said.

He also stressed the importance of developing workers' skills to meet the requirements of globally competitive industries.

The CEO said the awards are judged without revealing the identities of finalists to the jury during the final selection process. Companies are assessed on their performance, financial strength and sectoral excellence, among other attributes.

The 2026 awards will be organised with the support of the Ministry of Commerce and the British High Commission Dhaka, while Ernst & Young will serve as the technical partner for the selection and auditing process.

A jury comprising senior representatives from HSBC, the Ministry of Commerce and the British High Commission will select winners based on criteria including export performance, sustainability, diversity, responsibility and governance, according to the organisers.

Talukdar Noman Anwar, country head of communications at HSBC Bangladesh, outlined the award rules at the launch.

The nomination deadline is 20 September 2026. Nomination forms and details are available through HSBC Bangladesh's Export Excellence Awards 2026 platform.

The launch event was attended by past award winners, including PRAN-RFL Group Chairman and CEO Ahsan Khan Chowdhury, Ulkasemi CEO and President Enayetur Rahman, and Urmi Group Director and CEO Asif Ashraf.