BGMEA
Sourcing from Bangladesh: BGMEA proposes collaboration with Disney
The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has proposed collaboration with The Walt Disney Company to start unconditional sourcing from Bangladesh.
BGMEA President Faruque Hassan had a meeting with David Grazi, president of Disney's major sourcing partner Dreamwave, and Albert Daniel, global vice-president of sourcing at Dreamwave, in New York recently.
The apex body of the country's apparel industry proposed a partnership with Disney to start unconditional sourcing from Bangladesh and build capacity together, focusing on their specific need in technical issues, social compliance and sustainability.
READ: BGMEA wants to increase RMG exports to Canada, promote positive image
BGMEA Director Abdullah Hil Rakib and its former president Md Shafiul Islam were also present at the meeting with the US-based apparel brand.
They had discussions on other issues, including the potential of Bangladesh as a sourcing country for activewear, outerwear, swimwear, and workwear.
READ: BGMEA chief invites Canadian businessmen to invest in Bangladesh
The BGMEA president requested Dreamwave to increase its sourcing from Bangladesh – namely, garments produced from man-made fibre.
They also discussed how BGMEA and Dreamwave could work together to showcase the good stories of Bangladesh's apparel industry.
BGMEA chief urges expats to contribute more to Bangladesh's development
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Faruque Hassan has urged expatriates living in the US to contribute more to Bangladesh's development.
"Your support and contribution will help Bangladesh realise its untapped potential – namely, draw foreign investment, project a positive image and protect interests of the country internationally," he said.
READ: BGMEA wants to increase RMG exports to Canada, promote positive image
The BGMEA chief made the call while addressing the conference "New World New Hope: United Nations and Bangladesh" organised by the Centre for Non Resident Bangladeshis in New York recently on the sidelines of the 76th General Assembly of the United Nations, the apex body of the country's apparel industry said Saturday.
Bangladeshis living abroad, especially the NRBs holding influential positions in their countries of residence, including the US, can play an important role in promoting the interests of Bangladesh at policy-making levels, Faruque said.
READ: BGMEA chief invites Canadian businessmen to invest in Bangladesh
He also urged the Bangladeshi community in the US to give preference to "Made in Bangladesh" garments during their shopping and also present them as gifts to their foreign friends.
"It will not only pave the way for Bangladesh to increase its apparel export to the US market but also help promote 'Made in Bangladesh' brand among the US citizens," he added.
BGMEA donates PCR lab to Diabetic Association
The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has donated a PCR lab, set up in Gazipur to conduct Covid-19 tests of garment workers, to the Diabetic Association of Bangladesh (BADAS).
The BGMEA handed over the PCR lab to the BADAS at a programme held in the capital Saturday.
Dr AK Azad Khan, president of the BADAS and national professor, was present at the ceremony as the chief guest; BGMEA senior vice-president SM Mannan chaired it.
Mannan and Azad signed an agreement for the handover of the PCR lab.
Expressing thanks to BGMEA for setting up the PCR lab, the BADAS president hoped that the Diabetic Association and the BGMEA would take more joint initiatives for providing health services to garment workers.
READ: BGMEA wants to increase RMG exports to Canada, promote positive image
The BGMEA Senior Vice-President said it had been possible for the BGMEA to give services to apparel workers by setting up the PCR lab with the support of a renowned health service provider like the BADAS.
BGMEA urges US businesses, NRBs to invest in Bangladesh
Terming Bangladesh a land of opportunities, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Faruque Hassan has urged US businessmen and also the non-resident Bangladeshis (NRBs) living in the US to invest in the country which offers an attractive and investment-friendly environment.
The BGMEA chief made the call while addressing a business roundtable held in New York recently, said a media release Thursday.
The US-Bangladesh Business Council of the US Chamber of Commerce hosted the roundtable with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and over 30 senior executives from the US and Bangladesh business communities on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
READ: BGMEA wants to increase RMG exports to Canada, promote positive image
The event was presided over by Jay R Pryor, vice-president of business development at Chevron and the council's chair of the board of directors, and Nisha Biswal, president of US-Bangladesh Business Council and senior vice-president – South Asia, international strategy and global initiatives at the US Chamber of Commerce.
Sajeeb Ahmed Wazed, ICT Affairs Adviser to the prime minister, M Shahidul Islam, Bangladesh ambassador to the US, and Md Jashim Uddin, president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries, also attended the roundtable.
The virtual roundtable engaged high-level Bangladesh government officials as well as major US and Bangladeshi companies across sectors and supply chains as well as major Bangladeshi business associations, including the BGMEA.
READ: BGMEA chief invites Canadian businessmen to invest in Bangladesh
"With our ever-increasing economy, political stability and all-out effort made by our government to build infrastructures, we are now one of the most favoured countries in South Asia for trade and investment. We have favourable fiscal and non-fiscal policies for the foreign investors," Faruque said.
The BGMEA president highlighted the prospects of investment in different potential sectors, including high value-added and non-cotton textiles along with others.
Also, there are huge investment opportunities in other sectors that can substitute imports and complement industries in Bangladesh like spare parts, textile machinery, light engineering, jute, leather, pharmaceuticals, ceramics and shipbuilding, he added.
BGMEA wants better cargo handling services at Dhaka airport
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has urged the government to improve cargo handling services at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to facilitate ready-made garments (RMG) exports.
A BGMEA delegation led by Acting President SM Mannan made the request to State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Md Mahbub Ali during a meeting held at the secretariat Thursday.
BGMEA Vice-President Md Nasir Uddin; directors Md Mohiuddin Rubel, Md Khosru Chowdhury and Rajiv Chowdhury also attended the meeting.
READ: BGMEA wants to increase RMG exports to Canada, promote positive image
The BGMEA leaders called for increasing the number of explosive detection scanners (EDS) at the airport to speed up the process of export cargo scanning.
They also focused on regularly carrying out maintenance of the existing two EDS as one of them often remains out of service due to the lack of proper maintenance.
READ: BGMEA chief invites Canadian businessmen to invest in Bangladesh
The BGMEA delegation called on bringing RMG goods inside the cargo village or canopy immediately after unloading from aircraft so that they are not damaged due to rain.
They also called for taking steps to make loading and unloading of RMG cargoes faster and properly stacking them in the cargo shed so that goods can easily be found and released quickly.
BGMEA requests home minister to end transport strike on urgent basis
Apparel exporters have expressed anxiety over a three-day strike called by the Bangladesh Covered Van- Truck- Prime Mover Goods Transport Owners Association and Bangladesh Truck Drivers, Workers Federation.
A delegation of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) led by its acting President SM Mannan (Kochi) met Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal at his residence on Monday night and requested that steps be taken to resolve the problem, taking the interests of the industry into consideration.
The BGMEA delegation included Vice President Shahidullah Azim, Vice President (Finance) Khandoker Rafiqul Islam, Vice President Md. Nasir Uddin and Director Md. Khosru Chowdhury.
The BGMEA leaders said retail sales are growing in the major RMG export markets as stores are opening following mass vaccination there, and Bangladesh is getting a lot of work orders as a result.
READ: BGMEA wants to increase RMG exports to Canada, promote positive image
The issue of lead time is very important for the export-oriented RMG industry where every hour counts since manufacturers have to make shipment of products within the lead time specified by buyers.
So any strike at this moment will severely affect the industry, they said.
The BGMEA leaders urged the Home Minister to take steps to keep the transportation of export-import goods by road smooth and normal.
The Home Minister assured the delegation of addressing the problem through discussion with the leaders of transport associations, said a media release on Tuesday.
The BGMEA delegation said many buyers are demanding air shipment of products to make the delivery quicker as demand is rising sharply in their stores. Increased demand for air shipment has led to cargo congestion at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
READ: BGMEA chief invites Canadian businessmen to invest in Bangladesh
But lack of sufficient number of scanning machines at the airport causes delays in air shipment, they said.
Moreover, one of the two existing explosive detection systems (EDS) often remains out of service due to lack of proper maintenance, BGMEA said.
So, buyers ask to have exported cargoes scanned at Kolkata airport due to lack of sufficient number of scanning machines, which results in cost rise and is not good for Bangladesh’s image, they said.
The BGMEA leaders urged the Home Minister to take steps for increasing the number of EDS at the airport alongside regular maintenance.
The Home Minister assured them of addressing the issues.
NRBs' engagement can shape Bangladesh's development: BGMEA chief
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Faruque Hassan has said engagement of non-resident Bangladeshis (NRBs) can play a crucial role in shaping the financial, social and economic conditions of the country.
He made the remark during a meeting with Nayem Uddin Ahmed, consul general of the Bangladesh Consulate General in Toronto, recently, said the apparel industry's apex body Monday.
BGMEA Director Abdullah Hil Rakib was also present at the meeting.
READ: BGMEA wants to increase RMG exports to Canada, promote positive image
Faruque said many NRBs are well-established businessmen, having huge investments in their countries of residence, while many hold influential positions in governments as politicians and members of parliaments.
Also, a lot of Bangladeshis are renowned scientists, academicians, researchers, high government officials and holding other prestigious positions.
Avenues should be created in an effective way to allow them to contribute to the development of Bangladesh, he added.
He sought the cooperation of Nayem Uddin to help the NRBs living in Canada promote the interests of Bangladesh.
The BGMEA president expressed thanks to the Bangladesh government for setting up a state-of-the-art office of the consulate general in Toronto as it would be helpful to showcase "Made in Bangladesh" products, including apparel items and attract potential foreign investors.
READ: BGMEA chief invites Canadian businessmen to invest in Bangladesh
Also, he requested the consul general to consider providing one-stop services to foreign investors from the consulate general
BGMEA wants to increase RMG exports to Canada, promote positive image
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Faruque Hassan has sought support from the Bangladesh envoy in Canada to increase the country's share of apparel exports in a potential market like Canada, especially in the area of high-end and diversified apparel products.
He met Bangladesh High Commissioner to Canada Dr Khalilur Rahman in Ottawa recently and discussed relevant issues.
BGMEA Director Abdullah Hil Rakib was also present at the meeting.
The BGMEA president also requested the envoy to project the positive stories of Bangladesh's apparel industry – namely, remarkable progress workplace safety, social and environmental sustainability and workers' wellbeing.
READ: BGMEA urges Canadian buyers to take more garments from Bangladesh
He emphasised the efforts and role of the high commission in Canada in securing the continuation of trade benefits for Bangladesh for 12 years after the country's graduation from the least developed country (LDC) category in 2026.
Faruque also sought cooperation from Khalilur Rahman in finding ways to involve non-resident Bangladeshis (NRBs) living in Canada in the economic development of Bangladesh.
READ: BGMEA seeks Govt support for RMG sector to overcome pandemic challenges
He informed the envoy about the present situation of Bangladesh's ready-made garment (RMG) industry, especially how the industry has been rebounding following the unprecedented disruption caused by the Covid-19.
Faruque also shared the future priorities of the apparel industry, including product diversification, especially increased focus on non-cotton and high-end product segments, market diversification and innovation in product development and process optimisation.
BGMEA chief invites Canadian businessmen to invest in Bangladesh
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Faruque Hassan has invited Canadian businessmen to invest in Bangladesh and benefit from the attractive and investment-friendly environment here.
Economic viability, the purchasing power of people, demographic dividend and ecosystem are in favour of investment in Bangladesh, he added. "The country has been able to secure a prestigious position as a role model of development in the world with its consistent and remarkable economic growth and development performance."
Faruque Hassan made the remark while addressing a reception accorded to him by the Bangladesh Business Chamber of Canada in Canada recently.
HM Iqbal, president of the Bangladesh Business Chamber of Canada, chaired the programme which was also attended by Nayem Uddin Ahmed, consul general of Bangladesh Consulate General in Toronto, and BGMEA director Abdullah Hil Rakib.
READ: BGMEA urges Canadian buyers to take more garments from Bangladesh
Faruque also encouraged non-resident Bangladeshis (NRBs), including those living in Canada, to promote the "Made in Bangladesh" brand in their countries of residence.
The NRBs living in Canada can play an important role to promote the interests of Bangladesh, especially those holding influential positions in their countries of residence, he added.
Also, the BGMEA president highlighted the prospect of investment in potential sectors, including high value-added and non-cotton textiles.
There are high potential areas for investment in man-made fibre-based yarns and fabrics, functional fabrics like polyester, viscose, spandex, and mélange, he said.
READ: BGMEA seeks Govt support for RMG sector to overcome pandemic challenges
Apart from textiles, there are huge investment opportunities in other sectors which can substitute imports and complement industries in Bangladesh like spare parts, textile machinery, even light engineering, jute, leather, pharmaceuticals, ceramics and shipbuilding. The ICT sector is also a high potential sector for investment in Bangladesh, Faruque added.
BGMEA urges Bernicat to promote Bangladesh in USA
Leaders of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) have urged senior US official Marcia Bernicat to promote Bangladesh in the USA.
BGMEA President Faruque Hassan and Vice President Miran Ali, now visiting the USA, met Bernicat in Washington D.C. recently.
Bernicat, who served as US Ambassador to Bangladesh, is now serving as Senior Official for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment and Acting Assistant Secretary for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs.
READ: BGMEA urges Canadian buyers to take more garments from Bangladesh
Bangladesh Ambassador to the USA M Shahidul Islam and Director of Giant Group Sharmeen Hassan Tithi were also present.
Terming Marcia Bernicat as a good friend and well-wisher of Bangladesh, Faruque Hassan sought her cooperation in changing the narrative of Bangladesh readymade garment industry in the USA as she was closely involved with the development and transformation of Bangladesh garment industry into a safe and sustainable one.
She was also requested to share the positive development and stories about the RMG industry she witnessed during her stay in Dhaka with key personnel in the US government and relevant stakeholders, said the BGMEA in a media release on Wednesday.
READ: BGMEA seeks Govt support for RMG sector to overcome pandemic challenges
The BGMEA President hoped that Bernicat would continue her support to promote Bangladesh and its interests in the US.