Local apparel accessories makers have urged the government to allow the apex grouping to issue Utilisation Permission.”We’ve urged the government to give us the authority to issue UP for our members,” Rafez Alam Chowdhury, president of Bangladesh Garment Accessories and Packaging Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGAPMEA, told the FEHe said currently, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) issues the UP, allowing them to import raw materials, which is time-consuming.He said the apex bodies of woven and knit makers are allowed to issue UD (Utilisation Declaration) for their members. “We have developed software and website as per the required condition of the NBR. So the authorities concerned can give the permission to BGAPMEA from the upcoming budget fiscal year 2015-16.”Mr Chowdhury said the bond commissionarate office issues import entitlement that involves time and money and creates hassles for the exporters.But if BGAPMEA gets the authority to issue the import entitlement, it will help boost the export.He said although exports of garment accessories have been growing 10 per cent for last five years, exporters do not get any sort of cash incentive yet.The association head said his members need to face a three-step audit- bond audit, valuation audit and local revenue audit, which is time consuming and troublesome. “This can be done in a single audit,” he said.The BGAPMEA president noted that export-oriented garment factories get ‘continuous’ bond facilities, but the members of BPGAPMEA do not get such facilities.He demanded allowing the association members to import raw materials of pre-fabricated building at zero duties, helping them to make the factories safe.The association leaders will meet NBR officials at a pre-budget meeting along with BGMEA and BKMEA today (Wednesday).
Source: https://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2015/04/29/90707
