DHAKA - Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun  today stressed on recycling the plastic wastes and thus making those reusable  to reduce the adverse impacts of such wastes on the environment.

"The use of plastic products is increasing day by day side by side the plastic wastes are also increasing which is harmful to our environment...We'll have to emphasis on recycling such wastes through chemical method," he said.

The Industries Minister was addressing the inaugural ceremony of the four-day  15th International Plastic Fair 2023 held at the Bashundhara International  Convention Center in the capital, said a press release of the Ministry.

Presided over by Bangladesh Plastic Goods Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BPGMEA) President Shamim Ahmed, Commerce Ministry Senior Secretary Tapan Kanti Ghosh, FBCCI President Md Jashim Uddin, Commerce Ministry Additional Secretary Md Monsurul Alam, UNIDO Country Representative Zaki uz Zaman and Yorkers Trade and Marketing Services Company Limited President Judy Wang spoke on the occasion as special guests.

The four-day fair will remain open for everyone.

Noting that the use of plastic items in the daily life is very significant, Humayun said that plastic is being used in almost every item like from toothbrush to the cover of life saving drug.

He cited that the overall export of plastic items in the fiscal year 2003-2004 was only US$107 million which has now increased to US$1.2 billion.

"The plastic industry in Bangladesh has been playing an important role as a linkage industry. The plastic industry is contributing towards earning of foreign currency and growth," he added.

Humayun said in order to build up compliant factories in the plastic industry in line with the global standards, plastic zone is being set up on some 90 acres of land at the BSCIC Chemical Estate while a BSCIC Industrial Estate is also being set up on some 155 acres of land adjacent to the plastic zone.

He suggested that plastic toys and crockeries items could be added to the export basket in addition to the existing items while government's policy support is also there for boosting the export receipts.

The Industries Minister also called upon the industrialists and businessmen of this sector to invent newer products and thus marketing those through diversification of products to keep pace with the changing market scenario.