29 companies to get Green Factory Award-2023

The government will present a “Green Factory Award-2023” to 29 companies from 12 sectors today recognising their role in enhancing productivity through the use of skilled workforce and eco-friendly technology in safe environments. The sectors are woven, knitwear, leather (finished goods and tannery), tea, cement, pharmaceuticals, tiles and ceramic, electric and electronics goods manufacturing, plastic, food processing, and textile industries. Of these 215 factories, 80 are platinum rated, 120 gold, 10 silver and four green as per the USGBC’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. Moreover, 55 of the world’s 100 top-rated green buildings are located in Bangladesh.

Source: https://www.thedailystar.net/business/news/29-companies-get-green-factory-award-2023-3596856

Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar witness a boom in salt production

Salt production has hit a record high of 1.7 million tonnes in the past four months in Chattogram and Cox’s Bazar. Farmers are now working in a buoyant mood in the salt fields as there prevails a favourable sunny weather, without any rain. In line with the target, the farmers of the coastal region are getting a good yield of salt, said industry insiders. According to official sources, salt is being produced on 66,424 acres of land in Cox’s Bazar Sadar, Eidgaon, Maheshkhali, Chakaria, Teknaf, Kutubdia and Pekua upazilas of Cox’s Bazar and Banshkhali upazila of Chattogram. A target to produce 2.545 million tonnes of salt was set for the region in the current year while 1.7 million tonnes was produced in the past four months against the total target. A total of 41,765 farmers have been involved in salt production in eight upazilas of Cox’s Bazar and Banshkhali upazila of Chattogram since in the last week of November, 2023. According to the Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC), the demand of salt in the country in the season of 2023-24 is 2.528 million tonnes. At the beginning of the season, there was a stock of 1.6 million tonnes of salt at the field level. The demand of salt in the 2022-23 season was 2.385 million tonnes while the production was 2.232 million tonnes. The price of salt in the 2023-24 season has been fixed at Tk 526 per maund and Tk13,146 per ton. However, farmers say that salt is being sold at Tk350 to Tk 360 per maund.

Source: https://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/country/ctg-coxs-bazar-witness-a-boom-in-salt-production-1714232116

PRAN Dairy wins ‘Best Exporter’ award

PRAN Dairy Limited, a sister concern of PRAN Group, has received “Standard Chartered-Channel i Agro Award-2023” in the ‘Best Exporter’ category for its outstanding contribution to agricultural sector of the country. Fisheries and Livestock Minister Md. Abdur Rahman handed over a crest and certificate to Ahsan Khan Chowdhury, chairman and CEO of PRAN-RFL Group, at a ceremony held at a hotel in the capital on Friday. This year, the award was given to some 11 individuals and institutions. PRAN Dairy bagged the award as the best agricultural exporter. PRAN Dairy started its journey on 2001 to increase milk production in the country. The dairy company has developed the ‘Dairy Hub’ concept for the first time in Bangladesh and is developing “Milk Collection Center” in the village area under the hub. The company is giving various supports and training to the farmers and collecting milk from them and marketing the dairy related products at locals and foreign countries.

Source: https://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/trade-market/pran-dairy-wins-best-exporter-award-1714235041

Beza plans to set up desalination plants in coastal EZs

The Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (Beza) plans to set up desalination plants to meet the water demand of the economic zones being set up in the coastal areas. “The Beza has developed short, medium, and long-term plans for water supply in economic zones, including one to collect water from CETP. around 1,000 MLD (million litre per day) of water will be required to meet the demand of the BSMSN by 2040. Initially, the Beza is supplying 50 MLD water through deep tube wells and surface water treatment plants, while another 100 MLD water will be supplied from two treatment plants. Of the plants, construction on one is underway, and the project on the other is under process. The manufacturing industry accounts for 16% of global water demand, which may increase to 22% by 2030.

Source: https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/beza-plans-set-desalination-plants-coastal-ezs-836661

Beximco to launch Tk1,500 crore zero coupon bond

Bangladesh Export Import Company Limited (Beximco) has announced the commencement of subscription for the ‘Beximco 1st Unsecured Zero Coupon Bond’ starting 28 April. The first tranche of the subscription will be closed on 15 May. This follows the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC)’s approval on 3 April, authorising BEXIMCO to issue bonds totaling Tk1,500 crore. The Beximco 1st Unsecured Zero Coupon Bond offers an unprecedented discounted rate of 15%, the highest in the market, translating to a monthly return of Tk1,250 per lakh. This non-convertible, redeemable, unsecured bond aims to raise Tk1,500 crore, of which Tk1000 crore will be used for providing as a loan to Sreepur Township Limited for the development of the Mayanagar project, while the remaining Tk500 crore will be used to repay existing bank loans of Beximco Ltd.

Source: https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/beximco-launch-tk1500-crore-zero-coupon-bond-836531