Al Amin :
Sustainable apparel export growth is top priority of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), said it Vice-President Md Shahidullah Azim.
In an interview with the New Nation, Azim also vowed to beef up international marketing to recover the apparel export losses that stemmed from the fallout of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
Earnings from apparel shipment, which contributes about 85 per cent to national shipment, declined to $27.94 billion in the last fiscal year from $34.13 billion a year ago as the crisis battered global economies and caused demand to collapse.
The BGMEA estimates that apparel exports will fetch around $33.7 billion in the upcoming fiscal year (2021-22) as the major apparel export destinations like US and the EU economies rebound with mass vaccinations.
“We are working hard to revive our export earnings so that factories operate well, nobody loses jobs, and the economy runs well,” said Azim, also Managing Director, Classic Fashion Concept Ltd.
He further said, “We will continue our efforts to brighten the image of the sector. We will negotiate with global buyers and communities to increase the prices of the garment items exported from the country.”
Following the changing fashion trend, Azim said that we are trying to export more garment items made from artificial fibre, known as manmade fibre, in order to get at least 10 per cent higher prices as the demand for such products is higher compared to those made from cotton.”
“Price will be increased automatically, if we produce items made from the manmade fibre and the country’s export earnings will widen further from the sector as well,” he said.
Azim said consumers are demanding textiles that have been produced in an ethical manner and this, in turn has increased the demand of sustainable and eco-friendly textiles.
“Today, sustainability has become the highest priority for most companies dealing in apparels and textiles,” the BGMEA leader said.
He said markets are improving as major apparel export destinations are reopening gradually with massive vaccination activities and new orders are coming.
“We hope the sector will rebound by October to November this year, if the pandemic situation does not deteriorate further,” Azim said.
Following this, the government supports includes bank loans at low interest rate, 10 percent incentive on export items made from artificial fibre and easing of cost of doing business need to be implemented immediately, he said.
About the additional government support in the sector, Azim said, “Having no parallel sector in the country, the government is giving priority on the RMG sector for the interest of the country’s economy.”
“BGMEA will appreciate, if any parallel sector develops with the government assistance. It could be IT or leather or any other sector. If that happen, it will reduce pressure on RMG sector,” he said.
