From right, Noman Anwar, head of marketing and communications of HSBC Bangladesh; Andrew Tilke, chief executive officer; Mohammad Mahbub-ur-Rahman, head of commercial banking; and M Shohiduzzaman, head of trade finance, attend a press meet at Ruposhi Bangla Hotel in the capital yesterday where the Bank announced the third edition of its Export Excellence Awards for Bangladeshi exporters.

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) Bangladesh yesterday launched its Export Excellence Awards for a third year to recognise five exporters for their outstanding performance in 2011.

“Exports not only keep our economy thriving, but also position the Brand Bangladesh across the world,” said Andrew Tilke, chief executive officer of HSBC Bangladesh. “As the world's leading international bank, HSBC is in a robust position to be a partner in this growth journey.”

The five award categories are: readymade garments and textiles exporters (Group A and Group B), EPZ enterprises, traditional and emerging sectors, and SMEs.

“Recognising exporters would play an important role in the promotion of exports and its diversification, and achieving excellence,” Tilke told the press at Ruposhi Bangla Hotel in Dhaka. “It is an initiative of the Bank to recognise the outstanding growth of Bangladesh exports.”

Mohammad Mahbub-ur-Rahman, head of commercial banking of HSBC Bangladesh, said the award is an attempt to dig up opportunities for the Bank to see how to facilitate the country's growing exports.

HSBC divided RMG and textiles exporters into two categories as these sectors account for a majority of the country's exports.

RMG exporters with annual export turnover worth $50 million or more are in Group A, and Group B covers those with less than $50 million in annual export turnover, HSBC said.

Companies in the export processing zones will be awarded under the EPZ enterprises category.

The non-RMG or textiles companies with annual export turnover worth $3 million or more will be awarded under the traditional and emerging sectors category.

The SME category is for the non-RMG or textiles companies with annual export turnover less than $3 million.

Local exporters can also participate in the programme by filling out a nomination form on the Bank's website.

The deadline for nomination submissions is April 30.

The Daily Star, Prothom Alo and Bangladesh Brand Forum are the strategic partners of the event.

M Shohiduzzaman, head of trade finance, and Talukdar Noman Anwar, head of marketing and communications of HSBC, also spoke.

Inam Ahmed, deputy editor of The Daily Star, and Shariful Islam, founder of Bangladesh Brand Forum, were also present.

The Daily Star/Bangladesh/ 29th March 2012