The ready made garment (RMG) sector of Bangladesh is moving ahead even after facing an adverse situation in the recent years. With significant improvement made in every aspect of quality control, fashion designing, technical expertise, merchandising as well as compliance, the sector is now getting recognition from all the concerned forums. The RMG sector of Bangladesh is expected to retain its position in the global market and succeed in achieving the annual RMG export target of US$ 50 billion by the year 2021. Leaders of Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters (BGMEA) claimed these at an informal meeting with the senior journalists at Seniors Club in the city on Saturday. The BGMEA leaders informed the journalists about a three-day mega apparel exposition to be held in the port city to explore every avenue towards achieving the vision of US$50 billion of RMG export in 2021 as set in the Dhaka Apparel Summit 2014. The 3-day event titled, “Bangladesh Apparel & Safety Expo Chittagong 2015” would be held at Radisson Blu Chittagong Bay View – the first 5-star hotel of international chain in the port city. Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmad MP would inaugurate the event at 10:00am on August 6, 2015. The mega exposition will showcase locally developed apparel products and provide an ideal opportunity for global apparel retailers to meet experienced clothing manufacturers of Bangladesh, said the BGMEA leaders. The safety pavilion of the expo would introduce local apparel manufacturers to wide range of safety equipment and service providers, they said. The event also aims at facilitating dialogue among stakeholders in four informative seminars to be held on 6th and 7th August to work out ways for Bangladesh to pursue its US$ 50 billion RMG export vision and become a premium brand worldwide by 2021, said the BGMEA leaders. Riding on 35 years of experience, Bangladesh is regarded as one of the preferred apparel sourcing destinations in the world, they said. The mega expo will play pivotal role in exploiting potential and ensuring a safe and sustainable apparel sector in Bangladesh, they hoped. Regarding choosing Chittagong as the host city of the event the BGMEA leaders said achievement of the vision of RMG export largely depends on Chittagong that generates a significant portion of the country’s apparel export. Some 95% of the country’s export and import are being made through Chittagong port. Garment industry started its journey in this city back in 1978 while the country’s first and largest export processing zone is also located here, they said. The BGMEA leaders underscored the need for enhancing efficiency and expanding port activities further in Chittagong keeping pace with the growth of trade and commerce and in the interest of the country’s economy. BGMEA First Vice-President Nasiruddin Ahmed Chowdhury, the Expo Committee chief coordinator ANM Saifuddin, directors Syed Nazrul Islam, Anjan Shekhar Das, Abdul Wahaab, Sabbir Mostafa and Sheikh Saadi were present at the meeting.
