A delegation of the chief executive officers (CEOs) from the Asian Trade Promotion Forum (ATPF) – a gathering of Trade Promotion Organizations (TPOs) – member countries has visited Walton headquarters in Gazipur.
The delegation was impressed with the research and innovation centre, manufacturing plants, the advanced production process, progress of the domestic high-tech industry as well as the potential of Bangladesh in export-oriented industries, said a media statement Saturday.
Set up in 1987, the ATPF now has 23 members with the objective of enhancing trade in Asia through information sharing, implementation of cooperative projects and strengthening networks among member TPOs.
CEO meetings and working-level meetings are held once a year. From October 18 to 20, the 35th ATPF CEO meetings were held in Dhaka where representatives from 23 countries including host Bangladesh joined.
As a part of the industrial visit programme of the 35th CEO meetings, organised by the Bangladesh Export Promotion Bureau, the ATPF delegation visited Walton headquarters Thursday.
The delegation members included Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) and ATPF Secretariat Industry and Business Development Support Division’s Deputy Director Yuta Ichinose, JETRO and ATPF Secretariat’s Representatives Ryo Takahama and Yu Kaneko, JETRO Dhaka Office’s Assistant Manager Yuya Usuki, India Trade Promotion Organization’s Senior Manager Krishan Kumar and Manager Praful Nair, Enterprise Singapore’s Regional Director Eileen Lee.
Cambodia General Directorate of Trade Promotion’s Director General Kosal Kao, Cambodia Trade Policy Department’s Director Seychanly Tith, Malaysia’s External Trade Development Corporation’s Deputy Chief Executive Officer Sharimahton Mat Saleh, and Pakistan’s Trade Development Authority’s Secretary Ahsan Ali Mangi were also part of the ATPF delegation.
They visited Walton’s product display centre as well as manufacturing plants of several products, including refrigerators, air conditioners, and solar power plants.
After that, Yuya Usuki said: “This is the first time I am seeing this kind of factory in Bangladesh. Manufacturing companies like Walton are very important to diversify the country’s industrial sector.”
Krishan Kumar said: “At Walton headquarters, I saw amazing facilities, technology advancement, vertical and backward integration. Walton is producing a wide range of products which are being exported to other countries. It’s remarkable progress in terms of the advancements made by Walton.”
Ahsan Ali said: “Walton is a big success story for not only Bangladesh but also other countries. Walton’s initiative for making compressors is a very unique and important step in the basic engineering sector.”
Eileen Lee said, “The scale, size and sophistication of Walton are very impressive. We saw that they have a strong product research and innovation team, all experts, continuously innovating.”
Source: United News of Bangladesh