Abu Sazzad :
Chittagong Apparel Zone will add $2 billion additional export earning from the manufacturing sector. Moreover, the apparel zone will also generate 2 lacs employment opportunities, said Exporters Association of Bangladesh (EAB) President Abdus Salam Murshedy to The New Nation on Sunday.
“This is a timely decision of the BGMEA and it will boost the RMG sector”, said the EAB President.
Salam Murshedy demanded for implementing the apparel zone as soon as possible for the betterment of the manufacturing sector as well as economy.
There are 700 garment factories in Chittagong, while about 40 per cent of them need relocation mainly to meet the safety compliance, said the business leader.
“The RMG sector is under threat and our garment industry is going through a critical time especially after the tragic incident of Rana Plaza”, said Salam Murshedy.
Alliance for Bangladesh Workers Safety is a platform of the 26 American-Canadian retailers while Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh is a platform of the 150 EU retailers. After the deadly Rana Plaza collapse, the retailers of the EU and America-Canada had formed the platforms to work jointly to improve the work place conditions of the RMG sector of the country, said Salam Murshedy.
Besides, the Alliance has been inspecting the factories considering sprinkler, fire escape, fire wall and structures and fire window provisions which the BGMEA say may cause hindrance to establishing better fire safety, also added the business leader.
Chittagong is a region blessed with potentials for its unique geographical location. More than 90 per cent of the country’s export-import activities are routed via the Chittagong Port, the nation’s prime sea facility, said the EAB President.
The government plans to earn $50 billion export target from apparel sector by 2021.
The ready-made garment sector fetches about $25 billion in foreign exchange every year.
Bangladesh is the second largest exporter of RMG products after China. But the sector has been plagued by accidents and complaints of poor working condition and low wages.
“A stable political situation is essential to achieve our $50 billion export target”, said the business leader.
The establishment of the apparel zone will facilitate the small and medium scale RMG manufactures of the Chittagong region as well as boost the country’s export, said the business leader.
In this backdrop, Chittagong City Corporation, and Bangladesh Garment Manufactures and Exporters Association signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) recently with a view to building an apparel zone in the port city’s Kalurghat.
CCC Mayor AJM Nasir Uddin and BGMEA President Md Siddiqur Rahman signed an agreement in this regard.
Under the two-year project, financed by garment factory owners, CCC will construct 10 to 11 seven-storey buildings on its around 10.36 acres of land. Factories established in Chittagong have an edge over others due to proximity to the port.
Initially, the interested members have to bear the cost of the zone, while the CCC will implement the project. The zone is expected to establish within next two and a half years, informed the business leader.
Chittagong Apparel Zone will add $2 billion additional export earning from the manufacturing sector. Moreover, the apparel zone will also generate 2 lacs employment opportunities, said Exporters Association of Bangladesh (EAB) President Abdus Salam Murshedy to The New Nation on Sunday.
“This is a timely decision of the BGMEA and it will boost the RMG sector”, said the EAB President.
Salam Murshedy demanded for implementing the apparel zone as soon as possible for the betterment of the manufacturing sector as well as economy.
There are 700 garment factories in Chittagong, while about 40 per cent of them need relocation mainly to meet the safety compliance, said the business leader.
“The RMG sector is under threat and our garment industry is going through a critical time especially after the tragic incident of Rana Plaza”, said Salam Murshedy.
Alliance for Bangladesh Workers Safety is a platform of the 26 American-Canadian retailers while Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh is a platform of the 150 EU retailers. After the deadly Rana Plaza collapse, the retailers of the EU and America-Canada had formed the platforms to work jointly to improve the work place conditions of the RMG sector of the country, said Salam Murshedy.
Besides, the Alliance has been inspecting the factories considering sprinkler, fire escape, fire wall and structures and fire window provisions which the BGMEA say may cause hindrance to establishing better fire safety, also added the business leader.
Chittagong is a region blessed with potentials for its unique geographical location. More than 90 per cent of the country’s export-import activities are routed via the Chittagong Port, the nation’s prime sea facility, said the EAB President.
The government plans to earn $50 billion export target from apparel sector by 2021.
The ready-made garment sector fetches about $25 billion in foreign exchange every year.
Bangladesh is the second largest exporter of RMG products after China. But the sector has been plagued by accidents and complaints of poor working condition and low wages.
“A stable political situation is essential to achieve our $50 billion export target”, said the business leader.
The establishment of the apparel zone will facilitate the small and medium scale RMG manufactures of the Chittagong region as well as boost the country’s export, said the business leader.
In this backdrop, Chittagong City Corporation, and Bangladesh Garment Manufactures and Exporters Association signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) recently with a view to building an apparel zone in the port city’s Kalurghat.
CCC Mayor AJM Nasir Uddin and BGMEA President Md Siddiqur Rahman signed an agreement in this regard.
Under the two-year project, financed by garment factory owners, CCC will construct 10 to 11 seven-storey buildings on its around 10.36 acres of land. Factories established in Chittagong have an edge over others due to proximity to the port.
Initially, the interested members have to bear the cost of the zone, while the CCC will implement the project. The zone is expected to establish within next two and a half years, informed the business leader.
