Home Decoration and Home Textiles Bangladesh

Bangladesh is well known for growing various natural fibres, such as palm leaf, seagrass, jute and water hyacinth. These versatile raw materials are used for baskets and rugs, handwoven fabrics or beautiful accessories.

A desire for individuality and an original style drives European Union (EU) market trends. Also, fair trade, handmade and sustainable product characteristics are becoming more important. These market developments present opportunities for Bangladesh's home decoration and home textiles (HDHT) sector.

In this project, the Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries (CBI) helps the HDHT sector in Bangladesh become more export-competent and profit from the European market opportunities.

Project goals

• Increase export revenue and improve employment and income opportunities in the sector, especially for women workers;

• Establish sustainable export relations within the EU and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) markets.

   

Project participants and products

26 companies are taking part in this export coaching project.

Contact CBI to find out more or contact these exporters.

You can also meet these potential suppliers at Ambiente in February 2024. For more information, contact CBI.

Partners

We work with the partners below to improve sector collaboration and the trade services of these organisations

• Export Promotion Bureau of Bangladesh (EPB); 
• Bangladesh Handicrafts Manufacturers and Exporters Association (Banglacraft);
• Jute Diversification Promotion Centre (JDPC);
• ECOTA Fair Trade Forum.

Activities 

This project includes: 

• Multi-year coaching and training on export capacity building;
• Help with developing a company-specific EU market strategy;
• Help with acquiring certification that could improve EU market success; 
• Help with realising sustainability objectives; 
• Participation in European trade fairs. For example, Ambiente in Frankfurt and Maison et Objet in Paris;
• Participation in an EU market orientation mission;
• Market testing of the products. 

Results 

The following results have been achieved: 

• Many companies from the project participated at the Maison et Objet trade fair in Paris in 2022 and the Ambiente trade show in Frankfurt in 2023;
• We developed a sector export marketing plan with our partners for the Bangladeshi HDHT sector. We are now supporting the sector with the implementation; 
• We helped establish a sector collaboration structure. This includes a steering group and several working groups per priority theme; 
• A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is signed with the Jute Diversification Promotion Centre (JDPC) on export capacity building; 
• With the EPB, we finalised a market intelligence project in November 2022. This included the launch of the new Bangladesh export portal of the EBP;
• CBI works with Dhaka University (Arts College) to develop a Master's programme focused on designing for the HDHT sector. Participating companies can offer students opportunities for practical experience.

Get involved as an importer

Are you a European importer interested in home decoration and home textiles from companies in Bangladesh? Contact CBI to get more information or to meet with suppliers in this project being trained to export to Europe.