Small garment factories of Syedpur demand SAFTA certificate

NILPHAMARI, May 14: More than 300 small garments factories of Syedpur are demanding SAFTA certificates to export their products to the South Asian countries of India, Nepal and Bhutan particularly to the north eastern region of India.
President of Syedpur Small Garments Owners Association Akhter Hossain Khan contacted this correspondent and expressed that according to the existing export policy EPB under Ministry of Commerce issue SAFTA certificates only to the member factories of BGMEA and BKMEA.
Till now small garments factories of Syedpur are deprived of the facility as they are not members of BGMEA and BKMEA as their size is very small which comprise 10 to 50 workers.
Sources said, SAFTA certificates allow exporters to get duty free benefit in exporting their products in the South Asian countries.  
Sources added, the products made in small garments factories in Syedpur are less expensive as their garment factories produce garments by using wastage and cut pieces of big garments factories of Dhaka and their production cost is very low.
Small garments factories of Syedpur export Tk 700 to Tk 1000 products in West Bengal of India every year, they added.
    abumusa88@gmail.com