Tofail assures RMG businesses of duty-free import of materials

FE Report | Published: February 24, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed assured the readymade garment (RMG) businesses Sunday of providing duty-free facilities in import of different materials related to the industry especially the safety tools.
"I assure you that we will definitely give you the duty-free facilities in import of RMG materials," he said.
He further said he will raise the issue at the Cabinet meeting today (Monday) which will be presided over by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Mr Ahmed was speaking at the inauguration of the 1st International Trade Expo for Building and Fire Safety at a city hotel.
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety with the support of the Accord, IFC, C & A Foundation and Elevate have organised the two-day expo.
State Minister for Labour and Employment Mojibul Haque Chunnu, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam, BGMEA President Md Atiqul lslam, Managing Director of the Alliance M Rabin, labour leader Roy Ramesh Chandra, BGMEA Vice President Md Shahidullah Azim and Accord leaders addressed the function.
A total of 52 stalls are displaying safety-related products during the show which will conclude today.
The commerce minister said to turn Bangladesh into a middle-income country by 2021, industries should be kept out of politics.
"It will be possible for us to make the country a middle-income one by the deadline, if we can keep the industries away from politics," he said.
Urging the buyers to increase the price of RMG items, the minister said although the government has increased the salaries of the workers, and has taken various steps to develop the atmosphere of the factories, the prices have remained at the same stage for a long time.
"You (buyers) should increase the prices of RMG products to facilitate the industry," he said. About the appointment of factory inspectors, Mr Ahmed suggested inclusion of local engineers along with foreign experts in the teams.
"We have many qualified engineers and experts. I will expect that they will also be included the inspection teams," he said.
Mojibul Haque Chunnu said the government has taken various steps for ensuring a congenial atmosphere in the RMG industry.
"We are trying to ensure all kinds facilities for the betterment of the industry. Along with the increase of salary, we are making a database of the workers, setting up two hotlines for providing all kinds of services," he said.
Shahriar Alam said though the suspension of Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) did not make serious effect on the RMG sector, it has thrown the country into an image crisis.
Md Atiqul lslam said the expo, first of its kind, will provide a unique opportunity to bring the industry together with key products, services and technical partners to improve the situation. The garment factory assessment by western buyers and governments has already started and there will be a remedial plan to improve the workplace condition, he said.
The expo will bring together building and fire safety products and service companies to showcase proper building, fire and electrical safety equipment like fire doors and sprinklers, he added.