Industries Minister Dilip Barua yesterday said the government has decided to set up a separate lightengineering industrial park in the country.

"Industries ministry is working on setting up a light-engineering industrial park and it would be possible during the government's tenure," Barua said while inaugurating an International Engineering Technology Trade Show at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in Dhaka.

Bangladesh Engineering Industry Owners Association (BEIOA) and ASK Trade and Exhibitions Pvt Ltd jointly organised the four-day trade show.

Barua said the government has given recognition to the lightengineering industry by declaring it a thrust sector in the industrial policy.

Exporters who are exporting lightengineering products are getting 10 percent cash incentive to expedite the export earning, said the minister.

He said the government wants to keep industrial pollution at zerodigit. He added the products have a huge demand in the US markets as entrepreneurs from the US already have already expressed keen interest in importing those.

BEIOA President Abdur Razzaque chaired the inaugural session where President of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry AK Azad and Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation Fakrul Islam also spoke.

Azad said: "As a private sector representative, I can take the responsibility of private sector if gas and electricity problems are resolved."

The government is giving assur-

ance to the businessmen to ease the gas and electricity problems but it is unfortunate that it does not yield any result due to lack of coordination among the concerned ministries, said Azad.

Razzaque said light-engineering industry did not flourish in Bangladesh due to lack of access to financing, advanced technology, policy support, infrastructure and training.

The trade show will put on display the latest technological advancements of industrial and engineering equipment, materials, services and technologies in related fields from Bangladeshi and foreign companies, organisers said. Around 100 industries from Bangladesh, India and China are taking part in the event.

The show will remain open from 10 am to 8pm every day.