BGMEA asks for 50-acre land in India to set up RMG warehouse
Monday, 8 June 2015
Business leaders have asked India for 50 acres of land to set up a warehouse to increase export of readymade garments (RMG) from Bangladesh. A delegation of business leaders of Bangladesh made the request to the government of India during their meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi who left Dhaka wrapping up a 35-hour tour of Bangladesh on Sunday night. This was Modi’s first Bangladesh trip as Indian prime minister since he was elected Indian PM in May last year. Modi stayed at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon during his June 6-June 7 Dhaka visit. A statement issued on Sunday said, Bangladesh Garment Manufactures & Exporters Association (BGMEA)’s president Atiqul Islam formally placed the request before the Indian PM to arrange fifty acres of land for the proposed warehouse project in India. He said once the land is handed over, Bangladesh garment industry owners will spend US $25 million to set up a company in India and build the largest warehouse and distribution centre there. The BGMEA, he said, will also set up 1,000 retail stores in India. Islam said these efforts can help narrow the current trade deficit between the two neighbouring countries. Islam requested the Indian prime minister to withdraw Countervailing Duty (CVD) on RMG products and said India should buy more garments from Bangladesh. Modi assured him that he will consider the proposals, said the statement, according to bdnews24.com.