The demand for medical personal protective equipment (MPPE) has grown all over the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The market for surgical masks has increased by 500-1200%. In addition, the market for medical gloves has increased by 200-600%, gowns by 100-200%, medical shoe covers by 50-100%, aprons by 50-100%, and protective glasses by 25-50%. In all, the global market for MPPE has risen from 51 thousand crore dollars to 59 thousand and 500 crore dollars this year.
China is dominating the MPPE market. The country alone is exporting MPPE worth 18 thousand crore dollars. It is followed by the United States, which exports medical personal protective equipment worth 4 thousand and 600 crore dollars. In addition, Germany exports 4 thousand 200 crore dollars, and Vietnam exports 1 thousand and 200 crore dollars’ worth of MPPE.
This information was provided in a virtual discussion titled ‘Expansion of Growth Opportunities: Production and Export of Medical and Personal Protective Equipment (MPPE)’. International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Deloitte, a US-based organisation, assisted in the discussion, which was held on Monday (13 December) by Business Initiative Leading Development (BUILD), a research institute established by businessmen.
Speaking as the chief guest, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi said that MPPE is an important sector for industrial development besides diversifying the export of goods. The government will provide all kinds of assistance for the development of this sector.
Commerce Secretary Tapan Kanti Ghosh said that the MPPE sector needs to be expanded strategically. Apart from this, by setting some goals, proper incentives have to be given to this sector. Coordination of public-private sectors is essential for the development of this sector. We have to keep a watchful eye on how much development has taken place in this sector and what kind of obstacles are being faced by the people involved in this sector.
The biggest challenge for the economy of Bangladesh at present is to ensure diversification in exports by reducing over-reliance on the readymade garments sector. Commenting on this, BUILD Chairperson Abul Kasem Khan said that the best strategy to diversify exports is to focus on one’s own strengths. Since Bangladesh is already self-sufficient in readymade garments and textiles, plastics, and pharmaceuticals, this has put us far ahead in MPPE production. As a result, it would be wise to focus on the MPPE sector for export diversification.
Ferdous Ara Begum, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company presented the research report of BUILD. She said Bangladesh has already made significant progress in the production of 12 MPPE products. Eight of those products are listed by the World Health Organization (WHO). As of last September, 43 companies have received no-objection certificates from the Department of Drug Administration for surgical masks and 57 for PPE gowns.
Director General of the Department of Drug Administration, Major General Md. Mahbubur Rahman said that Bangladesh’s pharmaceutical sector is meeting 98% of local demand. Besides, it is exporting to 57 countries. However, 95% of medical products are imported from abroad.
AHM Ahsan, Vice Chairman of Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), Faruque Hasan, President of BGMEA, Garment Owners Association, Shamim Ahmed, President of Plastic Goods Manufacturers and Exporters, Mahibus Samad Khan, Teacher of BUET, Asif Ibrahim, Chairman of Chattogram Stock Exchange, and others also spoke at the discussion.
