Accreditation key tool to enhance exports

Accreditation is an important tool to enhance exports and plays a key role in ensuring product quality and standards in international destinations, speakers said at a discussion yesterday.

The Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI) and the Bangladesh Accreditation Board (BAB) organised the discussion at the DCCI auditorium marking International Accreditation Day, according to a press release.

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They said Bangladesh's export target will be $100 billion in FY2025-26 and to attain this high export target accreditation, conformity assessment will play a crucial role.

Accreditation is an integral part of the global quality assurance system, Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun said while addressing the event.

"In order to increase export of our locally made products in the international market, we need internationally accredited and credible national quality infrastructure."

If the quality of products and services can be ensured, then it would be easy to grab the international market, he said.

"In this era of a free economy, many countries impose various 'technical barriers to trade' to protect their respective products and most of those are related to quality certification. Therefore, accreditation is currently an important tool for creating a strong export market."

DCCI President Md Sameer Sattar said Bangladesh's total trade was $141.42 billion in the international market.

"Bangladesh is gradually progressing to an export-oriented country from an import-dependent country. In the last fiscal year, Bangladesh's export was more than $52.08 billion. And for this export accreditation is a very important tool."

To show the quality of specific products, there is a need for internationally accredited certificates and these certificates play a pivotal role in boosting export, he added.

"After Bangladesh's graduation from LDC in 2026, maintaining compliance with our locally produced goods will be a great challenge. And to face this challenge and meet the GSP+ and other compliance criteria, accreditation will play a vital role."

He also stressed the need for capacity building and quality infrastructure of all testing labs as well as the Bangladesh Accreditation Board.

Industries Secretary Zakia Sultana and BAB Director General Md Monwarul Islam also spoke.