Bangladeshi motorcycle being exported

Bangladeshi motorcycle companies have succeeded in drawing attention of foreign buyers thanks to the better quality and competitive price range of their products, industry insiders said.

They also said earlier Bangladesh used to import motorcycles but now a number of the country's companies are exporting their products.

"The country's motorcycles are getting significant response from markets abroad for better quality and competitive price range", Chairman of Runner Group Hafizur Rahman Khan told the FE.

He said now Bangladesh is an emerging country for motorcycle export and for their good quality country's motorcycles can grab a significant market share of Asian and other countries if the industry gets proper policy support from the government.

Mr Khan said their company, Runner Automobiles Ltd, a sister concern of Runner Group, is exporting their products to UAE and few other countries.

"Now we are moving to expand our market to countries like India (North-Eastern states), Nepal and some African countries. They are potential markets for Bangladeshi motorcycles", he added.

Mr Khan said the ethnic market could be very potential for the local motorbikes.

"More than 7.6 million Bangladeshis are living abroad and they want to use goods of their own country; it's a good opportunity for us", he explained.

Chief of International Marketing of Walton, a pioneer in the sector, Lokman Hossain Akash said the company has already been exporting their products to 17 countries in Asia, Middle-East, Africa and EU.

He said UAE is their big market and now they are eyeing to go to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

Walton received an import order worth US$ 2.0 million Wednesday from a Nepalese company and the shipment will be made within the next three months, Mr Akash said.

He said China, India and Pakistan are the main competitors in this sector.

"For fulfilling the local and foreign demands of motorcycles we are going to enhance our production capacity," Mr Akash said.

He said there is an annual demand of about 0.3 million units of motorcycles in the country and local companies can fulfill the total requirement.


Source: FE May 31, 2013