Three-day Light Engineering Expo begins in Dhaka tomorrow
The expo will showcase construction, agricultural, packaging, jute and textile machinery, electrical goods, automobile components, dies and molds, among others.
The three-day Bangladesh Light Engineering Expo 2026 begins in the capital tomorrow, aiming to boost the competitiveness and export orientation of the country's light engineering sector.
The expo will showcase construction, agricultural, packaging, jute and textile machinery, electrical goods, automobile components, dies and molds, among others.
Organized by the Bangladesh Engineering Industry Owners Association (BEIOA) with support from the Ministry of Commerce and the World Bank-backed Export Competitiveness for Jobs (EC4J) project, the expo will be held at the Shaheed Abu Sayed International Convention Centre from today to 4 February.
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Bangladesh meets nearly half of its $8.2 billion domestic demand for engineering products locally, producing more than 3,800 types of machinery, spare parts, tools, dies, molds, and accessories. Around 50,000 small and medium enterprises currently operate in the sector, employing more than 300,000 skilled workers and contributing nearly 3% to the GDP.
Speaking at a press conference today, at the Dhaka Reporters Unity, BEIOA President Md Abdur Razzaque said the expo would highlight domestic industrial capacity, help reduce import dependence and create new opportunities in international markets. He highlighted that the light engineering sector provides vital backward linkages to agriculture, textiles, construction, power, automobiles and household appliances.
However, despite strong global demand, Bangladesh's dependence on imported machinery and components remains high and its share of the nearly $7 trillion global engineering market is below 1%. Current exports of about $795 million could rise to $12.56 billion by 2030 with policy support, technological upgrades, and increased investment.
Razzaque called for compliance with international standards, the establishment of specialized light engineering zones, patent protection, greater participation of women and youth, and the rationalization of duties on raw materials to support domestic manufacturers.
