US retailers have assured that they will continue long-term business with Bangladesh as safety standards have been improving in response to the initiatives taken after the Rana Plaza building collapse in 2013. “We are engaged in a process of continuous improvement. The collapse of Rana Plaza in Bangladesh in 2013 was a heart wrenching tragedy. Fair observers agree that we responded well,” Juanita Duggan, president and chief executive of the American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA), said on Tuesday. Members of the AAFA are retailers, manufacturers, and companies that make fashion goods for the more than $360 billion industry in the US and represent more than 1,000 brands with four million workers in America and millions more worldwide. “As a first responder, AAFA’s early initiatives became the model for programmes that today are improving safety standards in Bangladesh.” “Today, the industry has two initiatives bringing companies from all over the world together to work on long term improvements in Bangladesh,” Duggan said in his speech to a summit of American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong. “As an industry, we need to ensure that everybody in our supply chain, owners, workers, and everyone is treated with dignity. Upholding these social responsibilities is not only the right thing to do, it is a part of doing good business.” “The reality is that it is no longer good enough to be compliant. So, while the industry is moving in the right direction with social responsibility, we could do more,” he said. “And we aspire to do more. Part of the role of an association is to lead the way. That is one of the reasons we’re in Asia and hosting this summit. Asia matters in how we’re going to get there.” Hong Kong is an important hub for sourcing in Asia; it is also the gateway to the burgeoning Asian market, he said. AAFA members know they can come to Hong Kong confident they will find the partnerships they need, whether they are sourcing from or selling to Asia, according to the AAFA chief. “For decades now, this relationship has been good for manufacturers and workers in Asia, designers and marketers in the US, and consumers throughout the world. The fact is, we are a global industry. And as our association is comprised of global brands, we have a global perspective.” On the recently concluded negotiation on signing the Trans Pacific Partnership agreement, Duggan said: “We are hopeful that the final agreement will come through with increased opportunities for our industry.” “Free trade agreements have the potential to help the clothing and shoe industry access new markets, new suppliers, and new customers.”
