After almost a lull of two years, Bangladesh’s apparel export is making a rebound; at least so suggest the figures. However, considering the severe fallouts of the COVID-19 pandemic that the industry had to withstand for long that had many bowing out of business for good unable to cope with the existing scenario, exports coming up trumps — as per available figures, exports earnings in July-September of FY ’22 increased by 11.37 per cent to US $ 11.02 billion from US $ 9.89 billion in the same period of FY ’21 even if export earnings from readymade garments in the first quarter of FY ’21 grew by 11.48 per cent to US $ 9.08 billion from US $ 8.12 billion in the same period of the past fiscal year — is undoubtedly a very positive development for the industry.
So as work orders continue to make their way to Bangladesh, it was perhaps time for the industry, to put in more efforts to make the most of the emerging opportunities and influence the buyers to route more orders to Bangladesh. And given the recent reports, the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, which is the apex garment makers’ body in the country, is apparently trying its level best to influence things at the global level and through the channels that perhaps matter the most.
It may be mentioned here that a BGMEA team led by its President Faruque Hassan, had been visiting the West recently, during which it called on influential people, organisations and bodies to make sure a positive image is built about the Bangladesh RMG sector, which would lead the brands and retailers to look at Bangladesh with a renewed focus, with reference to their sourcing needs.
To start with, Faruque Hassan first has urged the American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) — the AAFA is an American industry trade group representing hundreds of clothing, footwear and sewn products companies and their suppliers — to promote Bangladesh as a safe and sustainable apparel-sourcing destination among its members even as he encouraged them to source more garments including non-cotton items from Bangladesh.
The BGMEA President Faruque Hassan accompanied by BGMEA Vice-President Miran Ali underlined the same when they called on President and CEO of the AAFA, Stephen Lamar, in Washington, in which were reportedly also present high officials of AAFA and other organisations even as they discussed various issues including how to enhance cooperation between BGMEA and AAFA to deepen mutual business engagement and explore areas of further collaboration even if Faruque highlighted the unprecedented strides made by Bangladesh’s RMG industry over the years in safety, sustainability and social compliance.
The BGMEA Chief highlighted the future prospects of the industry and stressed on the importance of industry upgrading particularly in the areas of skills and efficiency enhancement, technological upgrading and diversification of products, especially in non-cotton even as he welcomed investments from AAFA members in these areas, particularly in non-cotton and technical textiles and high-end apparel items while also urging the US brands and buyers to collaborate with their suppliers to build their capacities in manufacturing those apparel items which have demand in the US market.
What followed next was direct engagements with the buyers!
Also Read: The HSIA angle to garment makers’ export woes!
In a meeting with David Grazi, President and Albert Daniel, Global Vice-President (Sourcing) of Dreamwave in New York, the BGMEA proposed a joint collaboration programme with them to start unconditional sourcing from Bangladesh and build capacity together by understanding their specific needs in technical, social compliance and sustainability sectors.
It may be mentioned here that Dreamwave is a global sourcing and manufacturing company offering a vast network of global manufacturing capabilities and a wide variety of materials through in-depth fabric and trim supplier resources even as their manufacturing network includes fully compliant factories, including Bangladesh.
Moreover, it is the major sourcing partner of Walt Disney World Clothing.
As per reports, at the meeting with Dreamwave, the BGMEA President discussed on issues including the potential of Bangladesh as a sourcing country for activewear, outerwear, swimwear and workwear while also requesting Dreamwave to increase its sourcing from Bangladesh, especially garments produced from man-made or synthetic fibre.
They also reportedly discussed on how BGMEA and Dreamwave could work together to showcase the current initiative of Bangladesh as an apparel supplier including compliances in the RMG industry.
Meanwhile, in a separate meeting with Amerex Group — the New York-based Amerex Group designs and manufactures outerwear, swimwear and ready-to-wear for women and children to the customers of the United States. It is also the major apparel retail partner of Amazon, Belk Leggett, Lord & Taylor, JC Penney Co and other famous brands — the BGMEA President also stressed collaboration with them on industry innovation and efficiency.
Faruque Hassan called on Ira Ganger, President and CEO of Amerex Group in New York and shared the present situation of Bangladesh’s RMG industry and its strategic priorities especially in the areas of industry innovation, efficiency and capacity optimisation while also highlighting the industry’s increased focus on diversification of products, especially non-cotton or man-made fibre and the garments of high-end segment.
The BGMEA President also shared the progress of establishment of a new Centre of Innovation, Efficiency and Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) at the newly-built headquarters of the BGMEA at Uttara region of capital city Dhaka.
They also reportedly spoke about the possibilities and potential of BGMEA and Amerex Group collaboration in upscaling the capabilities of the apparel industry of Bangladesh which will accomplish the strategic priorities including industry innovation.
In both the meetings, former President of the BGMEA Md Shafiul Islam (Mohiuddin); BGMEA Director Abdullah Hil Rakib; officials from the US apparel brand Dreamwave; Brian McElwain, Executive Vice-President (Sourcing Purchasing and Production) of Amerex Group were present.
The visiting BGMEA leaders, also did not miss the opportunity to meet up with Marcia Bernicat, the former US Ambassador in Dhaka.
As per reports, BGMEA President Faruque Hassan and Vice-President Miran Ali, met Bernicat — 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 — and requested her to promote Bangladesh in the USA.
In the said meeting Bernicat, in which was also present Bangladesh Ambassador to the USA M Shahidul Islam and Director of Giant Group Sharmeen Hassan Tithi, Faruque Hassan, terming Marcia as a good friend and well-wisher of Bangladesh, 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 while also expressing hopes Bernicat would continue her support to promote Bangladesh and its interests in the USA.
In another development, BGMEA President Faruque Hassan requested support from Bangladesh High Commission in Canada in increasing RMG exports to the country.
Faruque reportedly made the plea during a courtesy call on Dr Khalilur Rahman, High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Canada, in Ottawa while also sharing the future priorities of the apparel industry including diversification in products, especially increased focus on non-cotton and high-end product segments and innovation in product development and process optimisation and also requested the envoy to project the positive stories of Bangladesh’s apparel industry especially the sector’s remarkable progress in the areas of workplace safety, social and environmental sustainability and workers’ well-being even as he laid emphasis on the efforts and role of the High Commission in Canada in securing the continuation of trade benefits for Bangladesh.
Given the efforts put in by the BGMEA towards promoting Bangladesh in the global arena, it is just a matter of time before the industry reaps the benefit of the same, at least so one would expect!
