MI Cement Factory Ltd  which sells cement in Bangladesh under the brand name of Crown Cement, has won National Export Trophy (Gold) for the second consecutive year for its extraordinary contribution to the country’s economy through foreign currency earnings.

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina handed over the trophy to the company’s managing director Khabiruddin Mollah at a function at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital, organised by Ministry of Commerce and Export Promotion Bureau.

Crown Cement was the first Bangladeshi cement brand to explore export opportunities for cement in 2003. Crown cement  in 2010-11 earned US$10.2m, almost double the amount in FY09-10.

Company sources said the major export market of Crown cement is the northeastern states of India including Tripura, Meghalaya, eastern and western region of Assam, West Bengal and Monipur. The company also eyes the export market for cement in Nepal.

In 2008 Crown Cement exported 27,115t of cement while the export rose to 68,100t in 2009 and 120,970t in 2010 showing a trend of tremendous growth in the export performance.