The Center of Excellence for Bangladesh Apparel Industry (CEBAI) was launched yesterday aimed at improving the productivity of country’s readymade garments (RMG) through research and development, reports BSS. Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) in association with SIDA, H&M and ILO has taken the initiative of establishing the CEBAI to improve RMG productivity by creating skilled and semi-skilled workers through giving market-responsive training or providing support for skill development endeavor by any member company. It will also research the challenges and ways to overcome them, policy recommendations, product diversification and wage mechanism. Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed unveiled the logo of CEBAI at a function in a city hotel as the chief guest. Speaking on the occasion, the commerce minister said the centre can play a significant and important role in the industry by providing skills and need based training. “Most importantly, the centre will also regularly conduct research on the industry to keep it in the right track of development and act as the think tank for the apparel industry,” opined Tofail Ahmed. Mentioning CEBAI as the first such centre going to be established not only in the country but also in the world, he hoped “It would act as an important catalyst for our industry’s growth through research and skill development programme.” State Minister for Foreign Affair M Shariar Alam, FBCCI President Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed, BGMEA President Atiqul Islam, ambassadors and high commissioners of different countries, ILO Director Srinivas B Reddy, SIDA deputy head of mission and head of cooperation Karin Mcdonald and representatives of H&M also spoke on the occasion. It would provide all sorts of training and skills solutions, basic, regular and product based research, professional consultation and new market development. Three core wings would be made the CEBAI functional. The skills delivery wing will be set up at Ashulia while Research and Planning Cell will be at the Dhaka University and other activities would be conducted at the private enterprises. Swedish SIDA and retailer H&M are funding $1.5 million for the first three years of the project to be implemented by ILO.
Source: https://www.theindependentbd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=255576:new-institution-to-improve-rmg-productivity-launched&catid=110:business-others&Itemid=156
