Garment exporters yesterday submitted a proposal to the Indian High Commission in Dhaka, seeking 50 acres of land in Gujarat to build a warehouse from which apparel items can be shipped directly to retail shops across India. Indian authorities had earlier agreed to provide the land and asked Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association to submit a detailed proposal. A BGMEA team led by its President Atiqul Islam first placed the demand to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his recent visit to Dhaka. Modi discussed the matter with his policymakers upon returning to New Delhi and decided to provide the land to the BGMEA. The move is expected to help Bangladesh’s garment makers meet their target of exporting $1 billion worth of products to the neighbouring country in the next three years. Islam handed over the proposal to Indian High Commissioner Pankaj Saran. Islam in the proposal said the land will be procured in the name of a company formed by BGMEA and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association and others to set up a warehouse and distribution centre primarily for garment products. “We want to invest around $25 million in India for setting up the warehouse and distribution centre,” he said, adding that they plan to establish around 1,000 retail stores in various cities of India to display and sell their products. Islam also said they are hopeful the Bangladesh government will allow them to purchase land in India to set up the warehouse.
