Dhaka: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday assured the country’s businesspeople of extending all-out cooperation to them in producing diversified products and exporting those to new markets across the world.

"Our government is always active to produce new products and explore new markets across the world for expanding the export basket. You’ll get all-out support from us in this connection. We can give you this assurance," she said, the UNB reported.

The Prime Minister said this while addressing the Bangladesh Leather Footwear & Leather Goods International Sourcing Show (BLLISS) at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC).

LFMEAB together with the Ministry of Commerce organised the 3rd edition of BLLISS 2019 to be held from October 31–November 2 at the International Convention City, Bashundhara in Dhaka.

Over 300 exhibitors from nearly 20 countries, including India, China and Pakistan, will exhibit their products at the event.

The Prime Minister said Awami League, as a government, is not involved in business it rather creates scopes for the businesspeople to do their own businesses. 

"We've given importance to economic diplomacy to introduce importers with the outside world with our leather goods producers. As a result, leather goods have become the second export items in the country overtaking the jute items over the last one decade," she said. 

Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi, Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce Ministry Tofail Ahmed, PM's Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman, Commerce Secretary Dr Mohammad Jafar Uddin, Leather Goods and Footwear Manufacturers & Exporters Association of Bangladesh (LFMEAB) President Saiful Islam also spoke on the occasion.

A video was shown at the programme describing the expansion of the leather industry of the country.