‘Made in Bangladesh Week’ closes on positive prospects
Jointly organised by the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporter Association (BGMEA) and Bangladesh Apparel Exchange (BAE), the first Made in Bangladesh Week was held from November 12 to 18, 2022. It included multiple events, such as the Dhaka Apparel Summit, Bangladesh Denim Expo and the global launch of the BGMEA Innovation Centre, under the banner of the “Care for Fashion” theme.
The Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina (pictured), inaugurated the event stating that the country is setting up 100 economic zones in different parts of the country. “We want local and foreign investments in these 100 zones,” she said.
In his speech, BGMEA president Faruque Hassan stressed the progress of the Bangladesh apparel industry with regards to safety and sustainability. “We are now also focusing on optimum use of resources, including making a shift from linear to circular model of business as the Bangladesh apparel industry generates about 440 million tonnes of pre-consumer waste every year.”
The Sustainable Leadership (TSL) Award, created to support companies committed to best practices in social, environmental and innovation excellence, was also part of the week-long event. Vintage Denim Studio (part of the ABA Group) and Beximco Recover, which recently set up the largest textile recycling facility in the country, each won one of the 18 awards presented at the event. Runners up included Pacific Jeans and Universal Jeans.
The week closed with the inauguration of the BGMEA Centre of Innovation Efficiency and Occupational Safety and Health (CIEOSH). “We have a huge achievement in the RMG sector, while the Rana Plaza collapse changed the scenario. After the disaster, we gradually improved our workplace environment,” said Bangladesh Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi, MP.
Looking forward, the industry plans to reach apparel exports of USD 100 billion by 2030. If achieved, the country could capture about 10% of the global apparel market share.
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