Dhaka Apparel Summit to help build positive image: BGMEA

FE Team | Published: November 09, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

Bangladesh will send out an impressive message to its partners in the global apparel market through the first-ever 'Dhaka Apparel Summit-2014' to be held in the city next month helping global stakeholders to come out from the negative perception about the sector.
Bangladesh also wants to sketch out a sustainable roadmap on building responsible supply chains in the textiles and garment sector addressing the global concerns, organisers said.
"We're trying to come out from the negative image what exists at the global stage now. That's why we're inviting all stakeholders (to interact with them)," Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Vice President M Shahidullah Azim told UNB.
Earlier, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, BGMEA President M Atiqul Islam and Shahidullah Azim came up with the idea to go for such event which they thought to be an 'effective' one for sending out the right message to global partners in the apparel market.
BGMEA in partnership with Bangladesh Brand Forum will host the three-day Summit at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre between December 7 and December 9. Bangladesh wants to reach US$50-billion RMG export landmark by 2021 on the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh.
The Summit will discuss the present business and investment trend, global sourcing dynamics and potentials for Bangladesh, priority issues to support the growth potentials, compliance issues, prudent commercial diplomacy and political stability, supportive policies and coordination between different government agencies, product and market diversification.
The discussions will focus on devising a strategic action plan to overcome the existing challenges and tap the potentials.
Part of the discussion will also focus on market diversification strategy and dynamics in global tariff structure. The Summit will also discuss how important physical infrastructure, power, gas and energy are to secure the Vision 2021 set for Bangladesh.
A session - 'Environmental Sustainability' - will look at the questions of environmentally sustainable economic growth in a densely populated country like Bangladesh and examine how the RMG sector can meet the standards required.
This will cover environmental health and safety, resource efficiency, environmental footprint, global agenda on environment, impact on buying pattern, preparedness, and green concept.
The BGMEA authorities, however, have decided not to hold its annual extravaganza - Bangladesh Apparel and Textile Exposition (Batexpo) - this year.
"We find Batexpo less effective. Ultimately, we want to do more and better business in the global apparel market. So, we find the Apparel Summit as an effective platform to achieve our goal," said an official at the BGMEA.
There has been a lot of progress in the country's RMG sector over the last one year that overcame some recent challenges faced by the industry relating to workplace safety issues that raised global concerns, he said.
According to the organisers, the summit will feature a number of panel sessions over the two days participated by representatives of governments of home and partner countries, international organisations, employers, private sectors, workers' representatives, civil society organisations, brand representatives and buyers, academics and media.