Personal protective equipment (PPE) presents export opportunities for Bangladesh. The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has provided the impetus. And manufacturing protective equipment is not seen as difficult for a country which is a garment powerhouse. So a sector like this can diversify the export basket. It is also believed PPE can induce the country to produce more value-added products, says Abul Kasem Khan, Chairperson, Business Initiative Leading Development (BUILD). Bangladesh is already making progress in the PPE sector. This is especially true in the case of 12 products, of which eight are included in the World Health Organisation’s list of PPE.

However, there are challenges. Bangladesh needs to develop the PPE industry in a strategic manner by setting up targets, extending the right incentives, ensuring public-private cooperation and following up closely on the progress and constraints. Key areas to focus on for developing the sector would be ensuring the right products, proper incentives, appropriate policies, knowledge and skills and proper use of technology and logistics. PPEs are highly regulated, with stringent quality requirements and require strong technical knowhow to produce. And this is a key challenge.

The domestic pharmaceutical industry meets 98 per cent of the domestic demand for medicine and exports drugs to 57 other countries, but it imports more than 95 per cent of its required medical devices. Foreign direct investment in the PPE industry would be needed.