At present, there are over 100 toy manufacturers in Bangladesh. Among them, there are approximately 12 large companies such as Hakkani Hark group, Kabir Garden Industries, Aman Plastic Industries, Sabbir Plastic Industries and Sumon Plastic Industries who are based in Kamrangir Char, Lalbag, Islambag, Chalk Bazar and Gazipur.
As per Shahjahan, the worth of the toy market is currently estimated at Tk7,000 crore, of which Tk4,000 crore accounts for local manufacturers, leaving only Tk3,000 crore worth of toys that are imported.
Not only are local manufacturers taking over the market but the qualities of their products are equal to Chinese products in every way, says Shahjahan.
It appears imports are slowly shifting towards raw materials which are required to produce these products, alongside the expansion of toy manufactures in the country.
Several of these manufacturers have said they want the government to take up initiatives to aid the industry by increasing taxes on toy imports and by allocating industrial zones for local toy manufacturers.
BTMMIA member Mohammad Sumon says: “We have the ability to export our toys abroad but we are unable to do so without the government’s support.”
Mohammed explains that the chemicals used to make toys, need to be tested to make sure it doesn’t cause skin diseases among children. Medical tests can be done too, that but those tests are very costly.
Most toy manufacturers in Bangladesh are unable to bear such costs and this is where the government’s help is required. Shahjahan says local manufacturers also have to rely on skilled professionals to make sure products are of high quality and unfortunately no such home-grown professionals exist here.
He added: “I myself have appointed a Chinese employee who is paid Tk1.5 lakh per month and so far he has trained my entire workforce. How many companies are able to employ such skilled foreign professionals who are paid such high salaries? If we could create a skilled home-grown workforce then exported toys become an asset for the country.”
The government’s support in this sector can start generating high revenues for Bangladesh. If raw materials are produced locally. “We will have the means to produce various electronic equipment like remotes, lighting and so on forth. With the right technical assistance and facilities, we can greatly increase exports,” says Shahjahan.The local market for toys is seeing a steady decline in its reliance on imported toys. As per Bangladesh Toy Merchants Manufacturers and Importers Association (BTMMIA), local toy manufacturers have taken over 60% of the market.
Prior to 2010, this market was fully dependent on Chinese exporters who exported toys made from cheap plastics. Today, local manufacturers have increased their ranks and are producing and supplying quality products that have greatly helped overcome Bangladesh’s dependency on imports.
As per Shahjahan Mozumdar, founder and president of BTMMIA, toy accessories worth Tk5,500 crore were being imported before 2010 whereas today this number has been reduced to Tk3,000 crore.
2016 alone saw an increase of Tk500 crore than the year before, in the production of toy accessories.
Mohammaod Rayhan is a shopkeeper in Kamal Store based in Chandni Chlak. He said two customers had come in last week and bought a doll for Tk110. He said sales of locally made dolls like the one he sold to those customers were “made in Bangladesh” and sales of such local toys were going well.
He said: “Earlier China toys were sold mostly but now Bangladeshi products are doing better because the prices are lower than Chinese toys.”
Omar Faruque, another shopkeeper from Alauddin store in Chandni Chowk said: “Chinese product are mostly sold in major cities like Dhaka, Sylhet and Chittagong. However, in rural areas, locally manufactured toys are dominating the market. The quality is as good as toys imported from China and since locally made toys are cheaper, our sales have gone up too.”
At present, there are over 100 toy manufacturers in Bangladesh. Among them, there are approximately 12 large companies such as Hakkani Hark group, Kabir Garden Industries, Aman Plastic Industries, Sabbir Plastic Industries and Sumon Plastic Industries who are based in Kamrangir Char, Lalbag, Islambag, Chalk Bazar and Gazipur.
As per Shahjahan, the worth of the toy market is currently estimated at Tk7,000 crore, of which Tk4,000 crore accounts for local manufacturers, leaving only Tk3,000 crore worth of toys that are imported.
Not only are local manufacturers taking over the market but the qualities of their products are equal to Chinese products in every way, says Shahjahan.
It appears imports are slowly shifting towards raw materials which are required to produce these products, alongside the expansion of toy manufactures in the country.
Several of these manufacturers have said they want the government to take up initiatives to aid the industry by increasing taxes on toy imports and by allocating industrial zones for local toy manufacturers.
BTMMIA member Mohammad Sumon says: “We have the ability to export our toys abroad but we are unable to do so without the government’s support.”
Mohammed explains that the chemicals used to make toys, need to be tested to make sure it doesn’t cause skin diseases among children. Medical tests can be done too, that but those tests are very costly.
Most toy manufacturers in Bangladesh are unable to bear such costs and this is where the government’s help is required. Shahjahan says local manufacturers also have to rely on skilled professionals to make sure products are of high quality and unfortunately no such home-grown professionals exist here.
He added: “I myself have appointed a Chinese employee who is paid Tk1.5 lakh per month and so far he has trained my entire workforce. How many companies are able to employ such skilled foreign professionals who are paid such high salaries? If we could create a skilled home-grown workforce then exported toys become an asset for the country.”
The government’s support in this sector can start generating high revenues for Bangladesh. If raw materials are produced locally. “We will have the means to produce various electronic equipment like remotes, lighting and so on forth. With the right technical assistance and facilities, we can greatly increase exports,” says Shahjahan.
At present, there are over 100 toy manufacturers in Bangladesh. Among them, there are approximately 12 large companies such as Hakkani Hark group, Kabir Garden Industries, Aman Plastic Industries, Sabbir Plastic Industries and Sumon Plastic Industries who are based in Kamrangir Char, Lalbag, Islambag, Chalk Bazar and Gazipur.
As per Shahjahan, the worth of the toy market is currently estimated at Tk7,000 crore, of which Tk4,000 crore accounts for local manufacturers, leaving only Tk3,000 crore worth of toys that are imported.
Not only are local manufacturers taking over the market but the qualities of their products are equal to Chinese products in every way, says Shahjahan.
It appears imports are slowly shifting towards raw materials which are required to produce these products, alongside the expansion of toy manufactures in the country.
Several of these manufacturers have said they want the government to take up initiatives to aid the industry by increasing taxes on toy imports and by allocating industrial zones for local toy manufacturers.
BTMMIA member Mohammad Sumon says: “We have the ability to export our toys abroad but we are unable to do so without the government’s support.”
Mohammed explains that the chemicals used to make toys, need to be tested to make sure it doesn’t cause skin diseases among children. Medical tests can be done too, that but those tests are very costly.
Most toy manufacturers in Bangladesh are unable to bear such costs and this is where the government’s help is required. Shahjahan says local manufacturers also have to rely on skilled professionals to make sure products are of high quality and unfortunately no such home-grown professionals exist here.
He added: “I myself have appointed a Chinese employee who is paid Tk1.5 lakh per month and so far he has trained my entire workforce. How many companies are able to employ such skilled foreign professionals who are paid such high salaries? If we could create a skilled home-grown workforce then exported toys become an asset for the country.”
The government’s support in this sector can start generating high revenues for Bangladesh. If raw materials are produced locally. “We will have the means to produce various electronic equipment like remotes, lighting and so on forth. With the right technical assistance and facilities, we can greatly increase exports,” says Shahjahan.