State Minister for Land Saifuzzaman Chowdhury yesterday said the US$ 50 billion export target set by BGMEA from the apparel sector by 2021 is achievable. “The government will act as a facilitator and the RMG businesspeople should explore newer avenues for exporting apparel items from Bangladesh,” the state minister said while addressing a roundtable titled ‘realising 50 billion dollar target for RMG sector: the Chittagong mission’. Chittagong Research Initiative and the BGMEA jointly organised the discussion at Chittagong Club yesterday. State minister urged the RMG entrepreneurs for fixing the modalities for pursuing the target. Referring to the suspension of GSP (Generalised System of Preferences) facilities, Saifuzzaman said that it has now become much of a political slogan. “We have nothing to bother about the GSP facility. Bangladesh is a country which has shown the resilience to withstand the last global recession,” said Saifuzzaman also a former president of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Referring to competitiveness in the global apparel market, he said “I do not think Vietnam to be a potential threat for Bangladesh. Rather I will tell the apparel entrepreneurs to consider the neighbouring countries to be competitors of Bangladesh.” While addressing as the keynote speaker, Hossain Zillur Rahman, former commerce adviser to a caretaker government of Bangladesh, underscored the need for exploring newer apparel markets in the world. “It is not possible to pursue the $ 50 billion target neglecting Chittagong. The unique geographic location which is a natural resources for us should be exploited,” added the former adviser. Zillur pointed out some specific obstacles to achieving the $ 50 billion target in the apparel industry. “The target cannot be achieved overnight. We should brand our apparel products. The efficiency of Chittagong Port should be enhanced. The existing land crisis in Chittagong is also a major obstacle to the development of the RMG sector. Moreover, we should explore solution to the energy crisis,” recommended Zillur. Salehuddin Ahmed, former governor of Bangladesh Bank, stressed the need for enhancing skill of manpower engaged in the RMG industry. Energy expert Professor M Tamim said that Chittagong still has the potential of expanding its trade and commerce. “We should not depend solely on gas for our energy use. We should diversify our energy use. We should also have the preparedness for encountering a no-gas reality,” added Tamim.
