Bangladesh’s apex garment maker’s body BGMEA (Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association) has requested the AAFA or American Apparel and Footwear Association — formed in August 2000 through the merger of the American Apparel Manufacturers Association and Footwear Industry America, AAFA is an American industry trade group representing hundreds of clothing, footwear and sewn product companies and their suppliers — to promote the country (Bangladesh) as the safe and sustainable apparel-sourcing destination amongst its members.
According to reports, BGMEA President Faruque Hassan made this appeal during his recent meeting with President and CEO of the AAFA Stephen Lamar in Washington, which was also attended by BGMEA Vice-President Miran Ali and other high-ranking officials of AAFA and other organisations, even as the BGMEA President encouraged the AAFA members to source more garments including non-cotton apparel items from Bangladesh.
Stephen Lamar and the BGMEA President further, reportedly, discussed various issues including how to enhance cooperation between AAFA and BGMEA to deepen mutual business engagement and explore areas of further collaboration even if the BGMEA chair highlighted the unprecedented strides made by Bangladesh’s apparel sector in terms safety, sustainability and social compliance, over the years, which have earned the industry global recognitions.