Emphasizing on the importance of skills development, British High Commissioner in Dhaka Alison Blake said Bangladesh needs to maintain its competitive edge and capitalise on its largest asset – human resources – as competition in the global apparels trade is increasing, reports UNB. “Investing in the skills development of its workforce, as Echotex (RMG factory) has done using its in-house facilities, will help it do this,” she said. The British High Commissioner said continued efforts are needed to carry out factory remediation as “much progress” has been made towards improving workplace safety in the RMG sector. “It is important that momentum is not lost and that remediation remains a top priority for the industry,” she was quoted as saying in a press statement of the High Commission on Tuesday. On Monday, the British High Commissioner visited two readymade garment (RMG) factories in Gazipur to reaffirm the UK’s support for Bangladesh’s RMG sector. The RMG sector plays an important role in sustaining Bangladesh’s economic growth and reducing poverty. It is also vital for women’s empowerment in Bangladesh Both factories, Echotex Ltd and Dalas Fashions Ltd, receive support from the UK through the Skills and Employment Programme in Bangladesh (Sudokkho) and the UK’s work to support the National Action Plan for the Ready-made Garment Sector in Bangladesh ( the SNAP-B Programme). Since the Rana Plaza tragedy in April 2013, the UK has increased its support to improving safety and workplace conditions. The UK also funds skills training for RMG workers so that they contribute towards increasing the overall productivity of the sector. At Dalas Fashions Ltd, the British High Commissioner congratulated the factory on making progress to address remediation issues. At Echotex Ltd, in addition to touring the factory, she visited the training centre and emphasised the importance of skills development. The new UK Aid Strategy has reconfirmed the UK Government’s commitment to spend 0.7 per cent of GNI on overseas development assistance, and UK is the only G7 country to meet this target.
