Medicinal Plants and Herbal Products Business Promotion Council (MPHPBPC)

About MPHPBPC, Key information

Medicinal plants and herbal products have been recognized as a sector having enormous potentials for export. It has a large domestic market, but its potential for By this time, there are some reported individual export efforts by some companies. Our closest neighbor India has an annual export turnover of more than two billion dollar. Adopting right technology, preparing an information base in respect of market and products, and acquiring appropriate skill sets required for producing products for international market will critically help the growth of the medicinal plants and herbal products as a potential export sector of Bangladesh.

Export Policy 2003-06 recognized formation of sector/product-based business promotion councils for export promotion and diversification through addressing problems related to capacities of the industry in particular. The need for forming a Council for the medicinal plants and herbal products has been felt by the industry and other stakeholders since mid-2003 following the formation of the first Council for the information and communication technology (ICT) in April 2003. This has received additional impetus with the inclusion of the medicinal plants and herbal products as a priority sector in the Export Policy 2003-06. Thus the initiative spearheaded by the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) took particular shape with the formation of a committee headed by its the then Joints Secretary (export) to draft memorandum of association (MOA) and articles of association (AOA), and a work plan for immediate implementation. The committee members included representatives from leading industry associations, related ministries, and Export Promotion Bureau (EPB). It took about two years’ intensive negotiation and dialogue among the stakeholders to preparing draft MOA and AOA for the proposed Council. Formal signing ceremony for forming a Council was held on April 09, 2006 and it was incorporated as a non-profit company under Section 28 of the Companies Act 1994 on 24 April, 2006.

Aims & Objectives

Aims & Objectives of the Council

The prime objective of forming the Council is to promote the sector to achieve competency in the local and global context as well as to help the industry building capacities in the fields of human resources and acquiring technologies.

• To promote and facilitate the export of medicinal plants and herbal products;
• To assist for developing medicinal plants and herbal product sectors in Bangladesh;
• To promote the industrial utilization of medicinal plants and herbal products;
• To promote and disseminate useful information so as to enhance the contribution of the sector to the growth and development of the national economy;
• To develop linkage with different institutions/enterprises at home and abroad for the improvement of the medicinal plants and herbal product sector;
• To send trade mission abroad or receiving such missions from foreign countries;
• To provide legal support/advice to the members of the Council as may be required to safeguard the interest of the Council as well as of the industry;
• To frame and monitor a code of business ethics and general standards of business conduct and promote fair competition and healthy trade practices among related industries;
• To set up common facility center/institute of international level for grading or laying down the standards of quality and packing, undertaking testing and standardization of the medicinal plants and herbal products, training entrepreneurs along with a design for upgrading the technology;
• To carry out research/study on problems and prospects of the medicinal plants and herbal products sector to achieve global competency;
• To stimulate the production of medicinal plants and herbal products for import substitution;
• To arrange training and educational program for human resource development;
• To protect and safeguard the common interest of the members of the Council;
• To undertake and execute any trusts which may be lawfully carried out by the Council and which may be conducive to the objectives of the Council;
• To undertake model project and to provide facilitation services to the stake holders;
• To publish journals, books, brochures, posters, flyers circulars, periodicals etc;
• To organize exhibition, seminar, symposium, social mobilization meeting etc;
• To institute awards, scholarships, etc, to as individuals, companies or organizations for outstanding contribution;
• To prepare and maintain a list of experts/professionals, capable of providing advice on the related matters;
• To undertake and settle all matters of dispute either between the Council members or between the members and others by arbitration or otherwise in accordance with the main objectives of the Council; and
• To undertake any other activities to fulfill the aims and objectives of the Council.

Bridge Overview

An abridged overview of Bangladesh Herbal & Medicinal Plant Sector

Bangladesh was endowed with a variety of rich medicinal plants. There were times when it was the only source of medicines for vast section of population including tribal living in and around forest, areas. Rapid demographic pressure, rural poverty, absence of government appropriate policy, accelerated growth in chemical drugs and unsustainable utilization of forest resources are mainly responsible for quick erosion of these3 vital resources (S.P.Gosh & M.S.Ahmed).

International market of medicinal plants is over US$ 60 billion per year, which is growing at the rate of 7%, China and India are two great producers of medicinal plants having more than 40% of global bio-diversity. China, besides meeting its domestic requirement is earning US$ 5 billion per year from herbal trade. According to the World Bank report, 1998, world trade in medicinal plants and related products is expected to be of the order of US$ 5 trillion by AD 2050 indicating tremendous export opportunities of medicinal plants. It is estimated that current demand for medicinal plants in neighboring India for internal use is about 2.4 lac tones annually and it is growing at the rate of 20% (Source: S.P. Ghosh & M.S.Ahmed, “Prospects of Medicinal Plants in Bangladesh and Export Potentials” , paper presented at a seminar organized by Hortex Foundation on 30 June, 2005)

A recent study on Medicinal Plants Marketing in Bangladesh sponsored by SEDF and Interco operation (IC) conducted in October 2003, reviewed the current status and estimated size of the market for processed herbal medicines in Bangladesh. The SEDE/IC study estimated the “turnover figures at trade prices for Ayurvedic sector at around Tk.1000 million and Unani at around Tk.1800 million with Homeopathy standing at around Tk.500 million”. Thus totaling around Tk.3300 million (approximately US$ 60 million). According to this study the Bangladesh herbal medicines market has been growing at over 10% per annum, exceeding the allopathic sector.

The study also attempted to estimate the quantity and value of medicinal plants used as raw materials both in organized sector (large companies, small companies), unorganized sector (herbal doctors/practitioner) and spent annually on approximately 17500 tones medicinal plant (mostly dry) material.

In terms of volume, about 70% of the medicinal plants used as raw materials (over 12.5 thousand tones) come from local Bangladesh source and the remaining part is imported. In terms of value, however, the medicinal plants materials grown in Bangladesh accounts for 40% only, thus reflecting need of both crop diversification as well as quality assurance of the locally grown medicinal plants. The large 20 herbal medicines processing companies of Bangladesh alone utilizes about 25% of raw material (950 tones imported and 4500 tones of Bangladesh produce) demand, whereas another 400 smaller processing companies accounts for 30% of the demand (1150 tones imported and 4900 tones local produce).

In the past medicinal plants did not receive policy support to ensure their sustainable conservation and uses. Problems accumulated around these resources over years have led to bring colossal damage to these valuable resources. Time has come to treat medicinal plant as one of the most potential trade commodities having comparative/competitive advantage over other land-based crops. Transfer of this sector from informal to formal and integration of the development of medicinal plants from production to consumption supported by marketing and trade are the only viable options that could ensure faster growth of the sector. This has to be done reversing the current trends of depletion of medicinal resources which is a daunting task.

Executive Committee

Executive Committee of MPHPBPC

The Executive Committee of the Council is responsible to run the affairs of the council. There is an Executive Committee of the Council to run the affairs of the Council. The Executive Committee of the Council consists of the following 23 (Twenty three) members:

Related Associations

Bangladesh Ayurvedic Medicine Manufacturer Association (BAMMA)

BPL Bhaban, Level-3,

Suit-408-10, 89 & 89/1 Arambagh

Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000

Tel: 01711825613

Email: bammabd1820@gmail.com

Bangladesh Homeopathic Medicine Manufacturers Association (BHMMA)

32, Naya Palton, Fakirapool, (3rd Floor)
DIT Extension Road, Dhaka-1000
Tel: 01711520440
Email:bhmma.president@yahoo.com
Web: www.bhmma.org.bd

Bangladesh Unani Aushadh Shilpa Samity (BUASS)

168, Elephant Road

Atlantic Wazuddin Tower (3^rd Floor)

Hatirpool, Dhaka-1205.

Tel: +880-(0)2-9669543, 0158999888, 01913511716

Email: info@unani.com.bd

Web: www.unani.com.bd

Bangladesh Herbal Products Manufacturing Association (BHPMA)

Square Center,

48, Mohakhali C/A,

Dhaka
Tel: 01911386617, 01819215490
Email:anwarmustaq15@gmail.com

Bangladesh Neem Foundation (BNF)

House No.-409 (5^th floor-5A),

Road-29, New D.O.H.S Mohakhali

Dhaka-1206

Tel: +880-(0)2-9856894, 01552201377, 01741678131

Email: mahakim63@yahoo.com

Herbal Product, Cosmetic and Dietary Supplement Manufacturers Association of Bangladesh

168, Elephant Road

Atlantic Wazuddin Tower, (3^rd Floor)

Hatirpool, Dhaka-1205

Tel: +880-(0)2-9669543, 0158999888, 01913511716

Email: herbalproductbd@yahoo.com

Contact

Medicinal Plants and Herbal Products Business Promotion Council

Ministry of Commerce
BFIDC Building (8th Floor)
73, Motijheel Commercial Area
Dhaka – 1000, Bangladesh
Tel: +880-(0)2-9514434, 9514435
Fax: 088-02-47118669
E-mail: mphpbpc@gmail.com