Export of motorcycles a glorious turn: Tofail

Bangladesh has started a glorious journey in its industrialization by stepping into the global market through exporting motorcycles to Nepal, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed today said.

"For encouraging local two-wheeler manufacturers, the government would announce cash incentives for them in the coming budget and would slap higher duty on import of bikes to accelerate the growth of the local automobiles industry," he said while launching export of Runner brand motorcycles to Nepal.

The minister inaugurated the export programme of the bikes of local manufacturer Runner Automobiles Limited at a ceremony on its factory premises at Bhaluka in Mymensingh.

Through launching export of bikes manufactured by Runner Automobiles Limited, Tofail said, the country has been able to diversify its export basket and the government would do everything that is required to boost the local industry.

Top officials of Runner welcomed the minister when he earlier arrived on the Runner factory premises at 12noon.

He visited the factory of Runner Automobiles Limited to inspect the production process of Runner brand bikes.

Tofail expressed his happiness to see the high-quality production line of Runner Automobiles Limited and praised the management of the company for their relentless efforts to move the country`s automobiles industry to such a great extent.

Chairman of Runner Automobiles Limited Hafizur Rahman Khan, Vice Chairman Md Mozammel Hossain, Managing Director and CEO Mukesh Sharma, Prime Minister`s Assistant Private Secretary Saifuzzaman Shikhor, Chairman of Nepal`s Matrix Moto Corp Pvt Ltd Dilip Kumar Karma, local lawmaker Prof M Amanullah, Charge d` Affairs of Nepal Embassy Dhan Bahadur Oli as well as the directors of Runner Automobiles and senior officials of the local administration were present.

The commerce minister said Bangladesh has now emerged as a role model for development, and the private sector is playing as the main driving force for the country`s overall uplift.

Tofail hoped that the country`s export would touch USD 60 billion mark by the year 2021 through further growth of the private sector. "The government would provide necessary policy support in this regard," he said.

The commerce minister said launching of export of motorbikes by Runner Automobiles as the first manufacturer of two-wheeler is a matter of pride and a milestone in the country`s history.

The Runner Automobiles chairman apprised the minister of their production capacity as well as export-related information.

He said the factory of Runner at present has a capacity of manufacturing 500 motorcycles each day and the company management has taken an initiative to raise the capacity to 1000 per day by the year 2018.

"I am very happy by launching export of Runner bikes and we would export 3,000 bikes to Nepal annually and the number would increase gradually," he said.

Runner started importing bikes in 2000 and after few years it started assembling parts here.

In 2007, Runner started its journey as a local manufacturer for the first time in Bangladesh through producing components which are approved by BUET and BRTA, the meeting was informed.

Later in 2011, Runner secured the government approval as a full-fledged motorcycle manufacturer, the first and only till now, through installation of various machineries like punching, welding, painting, assembling and testing. It started manufacturing operation in full swing in 2012.

Now various parts like chassis, rear fork, fuel tank, main stand, side stand, foot peg and being manufactured and assembled at the Runner factory at Bhaluka. For painting these components, an ultra-modern paint shop has also been set up at the factory premises.

Source: BSS