Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Faruque Hassan has requested the government of Brazil to provide duty-free access to Bangladeshi apparel products. The BGMEA chief made the request when Ambassador of Brazil to Bangladesh Joao Tabajara de Oliveira Junior met him on Thursday at its office. They discussed how Brazil and Bangladesh can reap mutual trade benefits through collaboration in the apparel and textile industry. READ: BGMEA seeks Germany’s support to continue duty benefits in EU Faruque apprised the envoy of the future priorities of Bangladesh RMG industry, with special focus on diversification in products, market and innovation in product development. He said Bangladesh is willing to import more cotton from Brazil for its ready-made garment industry and requested for cooperation from the Ambassador in this regard. “While Brazil has a huge pool of designers and experts, we have huge manufacturing capacity. Brazil and Bangladesh can work together in developing our capability in designing and manufacturing value-added products which can be exported to South American countries. It will benefit both Brazil and Bangladesh,” he added. READ: BGMEA wants Denmark's support to continue duty benefits in EU market They talked about scope of collaboration and support from Brazil especially in building capacity of Bangladesh’s RMG sector in design development for value-added apparel products.

The Embassy of Bangladesh in Seoul has participated in the 18th Import Goods Fair (IGF) held at the Convention and Exhibition Center (COEX) in Seoul. Korea Importers Association (KOIMA) organizes the fair annually to showcase the new products imported from the partner countries. Read CSR brings opportunities for businesses: Korean envoy This year, Embassies from 40 countries joined the fair along with 22 companies from different countries. The fair ended on July 24. Chairman of KOIMA Mr Hong Kwang-hee, and Director General of Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) Young-tae Choi inaugurated the IGF 2021 on 22 July in presence of the Ambassadors and representatives from the Embassies of the participating countries. After the inauguration, Ambassador Abida Islam invited the Chairman of KOIMA, Director General of MOTIE, and other Ambassadors to the Bangladesh stall and presented them with traditional handicrafts.   Read S Korean envoy discusses investment opportunities in Bangladesh During the fair, export items from Bangladesh, received with the complements of the Export Promotion Bureau, were displayed which includes RMG products, jute and leather products, ceramic items, and handicrafts like brass items and traditional dolls.   Korean businessmen showed their keen interest in the leather items and ceramic products of Bangladesh. Organic food items from Fargo like mixed nuts, honey, moringa tea, and ghee (clarified butter) also attracted the dignitaries and visitors. Due to social distancing, the audience was comparatively less this year but around 100 visitors visited the Bangladesh stall during this three-day event. Read Korean envoy seeks jabs for all foreign investors in Bangladesh The Bangladesh Embassy continues to play a positive role in attracting Korean traders and buyers to Bangladeshi products by participating in this Fair which is playing a positive role in further strengthening bilateral trade and commercial relations between the two countries. However, the participation of small and medium-size enterprises of Bangladesh in this fair in the future is expected to play a more effective role in furthering the bilateral trade relations between Bangladesh and Korea. Read Bangladesh booth steals limelight at Seoul Int'l Tourism Fair 2021

Awami League general secretary Obaidul Qauder on Thursday said garment factories around Dhaka have been reopened on a limited scale as there is a risk of losing international market of RMG products due to corona crisis.

As coronavirus has started taking its toll on the country’s economy alongside the public health, economists think the government needs to immediately work out a well-thought-out recovery plan and action programmes to tackle the toxic impact of the deadly disease.