Scaling-up export of natural and handmade home decoration products - Bangladesh

Classical Handmade Products BD (‘CHP’ or the ‘Company’) is a privately held company producing home decoration products from indigenous raw materials such as seagrass, elephant grass, and jute. The Company was incorporated in 2008 by Mr. Tauhid, who is currently the owner and CEO of the Company. Finished products are exported to Europe and the United States. 

CHP operates a decentralized business model across the northern part of Bangladesh, with 20 decentralized units located in Rangpur and Bogra, and a primary production facility in Nilphamari. Jessore is the Company’s only location in the south of Bangladesh. The Company employs 1,500 people and provides regular work opportunities to approximately 2,500 additional individuals, most of whom are women living in rural villages. 

The market for handmade home decoration products is dominated by developing countries. Internationally, Bangladesh competes with Vietnam, Cambodia, India, Pakistan, and Indonesia, while China competes through the sale of quasi-industrial products. The Company’s competitive advantage lies in its decentralized business model, which promotes economic inclusion. The investment was made with the expectation of further strengthening CHP’s inclusive value chain by integrating an additional 1,200 smallholder farmers supplying jute and other natural fibres. It is also anticipated to drive employment growth, increasing jobs from 1,500 to approximately 1,850 over five years, with around 80% of these positions expected to be held by women. In addition, the decentralized, order-based model is expected to continue providing flexible, production-linked income opportunities that support rural livelihoods.

SDGs