Inspired by the Japanese ‘one village one product’ movement, the government has started implementing a ‘one district one product’ (ODOP) scheme to decentralise and diversify export production. Officials hope the move will lower costs and ease environmental and social problems such as uncontrolled migration from rural areas to the country’s main cities.

The state-run Export promotion Bureau (EPB) has primarily identified 14 products that include organic tea of Panchagarh, crab of Khulna, Nakshikantha of Faridpur, handloom products of Tangail, clay tiles of Shatkhira, pineapple of Khagrachhari, betal leaf of Chuadanga and hilsa fish of Bhola.

Japan launched such a movement at Oita Prefecture in 1979. It has now become a global movement as countries like China, Malaysia, Thailand, South Korea and the United States have adopted this strategy to promote their products.

EPB Vice Chairman Md Shahab Ullah expressed his hope that the project will contribute to develop the rural economy.

He said the government’s move will help Bangladesh increase the local value in exports and will boost the traditional and indigenous sectors.

“The main objective of the project is to include more products in the export basket as the country now depends on a very selective products base,” Shahab Ullah said.

As per the EPB plan, a common logo for all the selected products under ODOP will be introduced to make them familiar worldwide.

The state-run export promotional agency also has a plan to set up some common centres all over the country, which will provide technical and logistic supports for the products under the ODOP project.The state-run export promotional agency also has a plan to set up some common centres all over the country, which will provide technical and logistic supports for the products under the ODOP project.

The EPB wants optimum use of organic raw materials as well as indigenous technology to promote products in the international market.

An expert in such movement from Japan, Tadashi Uchida, will soon be invited to Bangladesh to share his experience with local people.

The EPB will also propose to the government that it seek support from donors like Japan’s External Trade Organization in order to carry out the project.