Bangladesh Garment Manufactures and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Faruque Hassan has appraised the US government officials about the significant strides made by Bangladesh’s RMG industry over the last few years that has earned the sector global accolades as one of the safest industries in the world. He also highlighted the apparel industry’s committed efforts in the area of environmental sustainability, saying Bangladesh has the highest number of green garment factories across the globe. Read:BGMEA to participate in Apparel Sourcing Week 2022 in Bengaluru The BGMEA chief also briefed them about of the remarkable progress in Bangladesh’s RMG industry in recent years especially in improving trade union activities, workplace safety, wages, skills development and labor welfare. Margaret Scotti, Area Advisor for South Asia and Europe and Leena Z Khan, International Relations Officer at the U.S. Department of Labor on Wednesday met Faruque Hassan at the latter’s office and discussed the issues of mutual interest. Scott A. Brandon, Counselor for Political and Economic Affairs and Md. Saifuzzaman Mehrab, Labor Assistant at the Embassy of the U.S.A. to Bangladesh were also present on the occasion. BGMEA Directors Asif Ashraf, Abdullah Hil Rakib, Barrister Vidiya Amrit Khan and Chair of BGMEA Standing Committee on Foreign Mission Cell Shams Mahmud also attended the meeting. Read: Export earnings cross $50 billion riding on RMG They had discussions about various issues pertaining to the RMG industry of Bangladesh including workplace safety, environmental sustainability, workers’ rights and well-being. Faruque Hassan said the RMG industry is aligned with the government in implementing the road map developed by the government in collaboration with ILO to further improve in labor rights and welfare issues.

Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Faruque Hassan has said it is now time for them to leapfrog to the next level of growth as they have achieved a certain level of growth and momentum. “Our progress and prospects have made us one of the most sustainable sourcing partners to the west and we have to work harder for safeguarding it,” he said. The BGMEA chief made the remarks at a press conference while announcing that the 37th IAF World Fashion Convention will be held in Dhaka in November this year. The International Apparel Federation (IAF) will host the Convention in collaboration with the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA). Also read: Huawei Technologies willing to support RMG sector in renewable energy: BGMEA The “Made in Bangladesh Week” will be held concurrently in Dhaka on November 12-18. Secretary General of IAF Matthijs Crietee, BKMEA Vice President Fazlee Shamim Ehsan, BGMEA First Vice President Syed Nazrul Islam, Vice President Shahidullah Azim, Vice President (Finance) Khandoker Rafiqul Islam, Vice President Md. Nasir Uddin, Vice President Miran Ali, Vice President Rakibul Alam Chowdhury, Directors Barrister Shehrin Salam Oishee, Asif Ashraf, Md. Khosru Chowdhury, Inamul Haq Khan (Bablu), Barrister Vidiya Amrit Khan, Md. Imranur Rahman, and Neela Hosna Ara, BKMEA Vice President Md. Akhter Hossain Apurbo were present at the press conference which was moderated by BGMEA Director Mohiuddin Rubel. They also unveiled the logos of the 37th IAF World Fashion Convention and the Made in Bangladesh Week. The IAF convention will be a three-day event where in the first day, a board meeting of all the IAF Board of Directors will be held. A daylong conference, to be participated by local and international speakers, will also be a part of this convention. The speakers including brands, retailers, suppliers, industry leaders, and academic will shed lights on the current and future business trends, challenges, possible solutions, with an aim to make industry-wide efforts to create a better fashion industry for all. The annual World Fashion Convention will bring together the IAF membership, including apparel industry associations representing 40 countries, leading brands and other stakeholders. The convention will provide an opportunity for delegates and participants to network, to learn and to gain insights into the future direction of the industry. The Made in Bangladesh Week”, which will be organized by BGMEA, aims to promote the apparel industry of Bangladesh locally and globally by showcasing the compelling stories of the ready-made garments sector, especially its impressive strides in the areas of workplace safety, environmental sustainability and workers’ wellbeing. Alongside sketching the encouraging stories, the potential of Bangladesh’s RMG industry, its strengths, capabilities and future priorities to remain a preferred and competitive choice for global buyers will be highlighted among global stakeholders and audience. Also read: Growing export-import creating demands for more containers: BGMEA The weeklong event will include 37th IAF World Fashion Convention, 3rd Dhaka Apparel Summit,     Bangladesh Apparel Exposition, Denim Expo, award ceremonies like - Sustainable Fashion Award & Fashion Photography Award, Fashion & Cultural Festival and Global Launching of BGMEA Innovation Center.  Faruque Hassan said, “The 37th IAF World Fashion Convention will play an important role in initiating a greater collaboration with key actors in the supply chain including buyers and suppliers and global stakeholders to ensure more sustainable manufacturing and sourcing.” He said the “Made in Bangladesh Week” will provide a unique opportunity to showcase the impressive strides of Bangladesh’s RMG industry along with its continuous strive to pursue excellence in business capabilities to strengthen its standing as a safe, sustainable and competitive industry in the world.” Secretary General of IAF Matthijs Crietee said, "Perhaps more than ever before garment manufacturers play a pivotal role in the industry transformation we all need. So on the international stage presented by the 37th IAF World Fashion Convention, the Bangladeshi apparel industry will show itself as a source of solutions to the industry’s current major challenges.”

The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has called on the country's apparel exporters to focus more on value-added, high-end apparel items as their demand is high in the global market. "The demand for man-made fibre (MMF)-based garment items is on the rise in the global market. So it is high time we shifted our focus to non-cotton-based textile and apparel to realign our product mix in line with global sourcing trends," BGMEA President Faruque Hassan said Thursday. "Globally the share of cotton textile and clothing consumption is 25 percent only, whereas 75 percent of Bangladesh's readymade garment (RMG) product is concentrated within cotton items," he added. Read: Vulnerability in trading system needs to be addressed pragmatically: BGMEA President "The growing eco-consciousness and care for sustainability are driving consumers towards non-cotton, especially manmade fibres. So we have to keep ourselves aligned with the market demand." "It is good to see that our garment factories are increasingly opting for high-end and value-added products. More and more factories should move in this direction to seize the opportunities in the global market," the BGMEA chief said. He made the observations while visiting 4A Yarn Dyeing in Savar. Abdullah Hil Rakib, managing director of 4A Yarn Dyeing and also a director of the BGMEA, was present. Read: Bangladesh’s next development phase to depend hugely on industrialisation: BGMEA High-end apparel items like padded jacket, quilted jacket, seam-sealed jacket, down jacket, bomber jacket, ski-wear, jogging suit, rainwear, gilet, leather jacket, workwear, technical apparels are produced and exported by 4A Yarn Dyeing. The factory is equipped with modern and sophisticated automatic machinery and has a design studio for product innovation and development.

Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Faruque Hassan has called on dyes and chemicals manufacturers to explore more cost-effective and eco-friendly dyes, chemicals and technologies for ensuring sustainable textile manufacturing. He also urged the technicians working in the textile sector to stay updated on the latest technologies so that they can reduce the wastage of chemicals and dyes during the production process. Read:BGMEA for branding 'Made in Bangladesh' He made the call while addressing a programme organised on the 25th anniversary of Swiss Colours Bangladesh in Dhaka Wednesday. Faruque said prices of yarn, chemicals and other raw materials have gone up in the global supply chain, increasing production costs in garment manufacturing. He requested brands and buyers to increase prices considering the issue.

Women have made a significant contribution to the socio-economic transformation of the country in the last 50 years, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Faruque Hassan said Saturday. "Bangladesh has emerged as a role model of development in the world. The country has qualified to graduate into a developing nation from a least developed country (LDC)," he said. "All people of Bangladesh – both men and women – are behind the achievements of the country," Faruque added. Read: BGMEA requests EU to continue duty benefit for 12 years after LDC graduation He was addressing a programme organised by Women and e-Commerce (WE) to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh's Independence and the 4th anniversary of the organisation. Faruque said, "Defying various odds, women are making their marks in different fields, including politics, government, business, and service. "Bangladesh has an immense opportunity to grow further where women have a great role to play." Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen attended the programme as the chief guest. Read: BGMEA urges govt to speed up airport dev projects Zunaid Ahmed Palak, state minister for information and communication technology, and Meher Afroze Chumki, former state minister for women and children affairs, were present. Director of Giant Group Sharmeen Hassan Tithi also attended the event.

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.

The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Faruque Hassan has requested the Industrial Police chief to consider extending zones of the specialised unit of the Bangladesh Police to Uttarkhan, Dakshinkhan, Mirpur, Malibagh, Rampura and Badda where some apparel factories are operating. Additional Inspector General of Industrial Police Shafiqul Islam and Faruque Hassan had a meeting at the BGMEA office Wednesday on the law and order situation in the RMG industry during the Covid-19 period and ahead of Eid-ul Azha. Faruque thanked the Industrial Police for providing its support and cooperation to the readymade garment (RMG) industry by assuring security and a peaceful atmosphere in the sector through maintaining law and order. The BGMEA chief also praised the role of the Industrial Police in maintaining harmonious industrial relations between factory owners and workers. Shafiqul Islam said the Industrial Police has been working round the clock to maintain peace and ensure security in the industrial areas. He also assured that the Industrial Police would extend all-out support and cooperation to the RMG industry. BGMEA Senior Vice-President SM Mannan (Kochi), Vice-President Md Shahidullah Azim, Vice-President (Finance) Khandoker Rafiqul Islam and Vice-President Md Nasir Uddin and directors were also present at the meeting. Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Industrial Police Md Mahbubur Rahman, Additional DIG AKM Awlad Hossain, Superintendent of Police (Operations and Intelligence) Shoaib Ahmed, SPs of Industrial Police-1, Ashulia Zone, Industrial Police Zone-2, Gazipur, Industrial Police Zone-4 and Narayanganj also joined the meeting.

Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Faruque Hassan on Tuesday said Bangladesh can add at least US$ 2 billion in its export earnings annually by grabbing the growing global market of man-made fibre (MMF) textiles. “There’s huge opportunity. Market is there. If we can grab the opportunity, we can add additional exports worth US$ 2 billionat least,” he told a small group of reporters at his office in the city. The chief of the country’s apparel sector’s apex body reiterated its request to the government to provide a 10 percent cash incentive for non-cotton based garment exports for a certain period so that Bangladesh remains competitive in the global market. Faruque said such efforts will help create employment and boost investment in the sector contributing to the overall economy of the country.  Read:BGMEA seeks central bank support for RMG sector to address pandemic challenges He said the demand for man-made fibre (MMF) textiles all over the world is on the rise with annual growth of 3 to 4 percent as a substitute for cotton amid changes in global fashion trends. Currently MMF dominates global textile fibre consumption with around 75 percent non-cotton fibre (64 percent MMF) while the cotton share is only 25 percent. The share of MMF has been steadily increasing due to the inherent limitations of growth of cotton and other natural items. The BGMEA President said they did not ask for reduction of any tax this time but only wanted continuation of those facilities that are already in place. He said MMF-based textile trade volume stood US$ 150 billion in 2017 while Bangladesh’s share was only 5 against Bangladesh’s competitor Vietnam’s share of 10 percent. The BGMEA President said though there was investment in the non-cotton or MMF sector in the past, it was mainly capital investment and technology-based investment. He said it will encourage investment and exports in the non-cotton sector if 10 percent incentive is given on export of non-cotton products. Faruque said they did not see that much investment in the sector in the last couple of years which is required for employment generation. Read:BGMEA wants continuation of 0.5 per cent source tax

President of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Dr Rubana Huq has said buyers have so far cancelled orders worth US$ 1.48 billion following the outbreak of coronavirus.