Stay alert against conspirators in RMG sector : PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina asked Sunday all concerned, including the owners of garment factories and consumers, workers and foreign buyers, to remain alert against conspirators, both at home and abroad, trying to destroy the country's highly potential RMG sector, reports UNB.
"Bangladesh is the world's second largest RMG exporters. Several quarters, perhaps, do not like this… so they're engaged in conspiracies against this sector. I'm urging the owners, workers, foreign buyers and consumers to stay alert against local as well as foreign conspirators," she said.
The Prime Minister was inaugurating the first-ever 'Dhaka Apparel Summit-2014', organised by Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) in the city.
The three-day 'Dhaka Apparel Summit' will showcase Bangladesh's progress in the vital readymade garment sector and work out a plan to reach US$ 50-billion export landmark by 2021, the golden jubilee of the country's independence.
The Prime Minister also inaugurated the 'Centre of Excellence for Bangladesh Apparel Industry and International Trade Expo for Building and Fire Safety 2014'.
Hasina said if any problem arises, the government has the ability to tackle it. "But make sure that other quarters cannot conspire against our industries. I'm urging all, especially the owners and workers, to remain vigilant in this regard."
BGMEA is hosting the event, replacing its annual show, BATEXPO, which is expected to help Bangladesh send out an impressive message to its partners in the global apparel market.
Currently, the apparel demand in the global market is about US$ 450 billion which will hit US$ 650 billion by 2021. Bangladesh needs 8 per cent share of the total global apparel demand by 2021 as against the country's current share of 5 per cent.
Sheikh Hasina also urged the country's exporters to find new markets and bring new designs in the products to further explore exports of RMG to world markets, saying her government will remain beside the exporters to this end.
She said the government has given highest priority to creating a congenial atmosphere for investment to ensure massive industrialisation and employment opportunities in the country and build Bangladesh as a middle-income nation by 2021 and a developed one by 2041.
Terming the garment sector a pride of Bangladesh, Hasina said some 40 lakh workers, including 80 per cent women, are currently employed in garment industries.
Assuring of all-out cooperation to the RMG exporters, the Prime Minister said her government has undertaken a number of measures to expand markets for RMG products, and urged them to fully utilise the huge facilities provided by the government to further explore opportunities for the sector.
She said the RMG owners will have to further improve the quality and standard of their products to survive in the world's competitive markets.