Istanbul:Dhaka Bangladesh is exploring opportunities to leverage Turkey's expertise in converting urban and industrial waste into electricity and advancing its leather industry.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Commerce and Industry Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir visited key facilities in Istanbul from November 4-5 to gain insights into Turkish technologies, operational systems, and industrial infrastructure.
During the visit, Muktadir toured the waste incineration and power generation plant of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, which processes 3,000 tonnes of waste daily with an installed capacity of 85 megawatts. This technology could enhance waste management in Bangladesh, though it requires local assessments for economic and environmental suitability.
The minister also visited the Istanbul Leather Organised Industrial Zone (IDOSB) in Tuzla, where he was briefed on its operations, including the role of shared infrastructure and centralised wastewater treatment in leather production. This knowledge could aid in modernizing Bangladesh's leather industry and improving environmental compliance and production efficiency.
Additionally, Muktadir observed operations at Cevahir Leather Industry and Trade Company Limited, learning about leather processing technologies. On November 5, he visited the Energram Thermal Disposal Facility in Sile, which has a capacity to treat 33,000 tonnes of waste annually and generate 5.6 megawatts of electricity.
These visits underscored potential collaboration with Turkish institutions in urban development, environmental management, and industrial modernization. The adoption of appropriate technologies could enhance waste management and electricity supply in Bangladesh, while Turkey's experience could improve wastewater treatment and production processes in the leather sector. Opportunities for training, technology transfer, and investment were also identified to boost Bangladesh's industrial competitiveness, export diversification, and employment generation.