The country’s apparel sector has been maintaining a ‘stable growth’ over the years, despite ‘global conspiracy’, Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu said Wednesday. “There is a global conspiracy against Bangladeshi apparel industry by its competitors to halt growth,” he said. The competitors were trying to defame Bangladesh after the Rana Plaza collapse and the fire incident in Tazreen Fashions, the minister added. Following those incidences, Accord and Alliance have set some conditions for the factories, he said, adding Bangladeshi apparel industries are making significant progress in the following the conditions. Regarding restoration of GSP facilities in the US, the minister said: “Our government has implemented various measures to ensure workers’ safety, improvement in working conditions, occupational and health safety and payment of minimum wages.” He was speaking as the chief guest at the opening ceremony of textiles industry-related three international expos, held at the International Convention Centre Bashundhara (ICCB). State Minister of Textiles and Jute Mirza Azam, the Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI) First Vice President Shafiul Islam (Mohiuddin), Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Md Siddiqur Rahman, Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) First Vice President A H Aslam Sunny and Deputy High Commissioner of India to Dhaka Adarsh Swaika also spoke on the occasion. The expo organising company Conference and Exhibition Management Services (CEMS) Managing Director Meherun N. Islam presided over the opening ceremony. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Azam said ready-made garment has made a tremendous scope for employment, especially for the women. Around 80 per cent of total 4.4 million garments workers are women, he said, mentioning: “It helps the government a lot in achieving the goal of women empowerment.” Referring to the country’s success in producing yarn and fabrics, he called upon the investors and mill owners to invest in the country to reduce dependence on imports. “Invest more to reduce further dependence on imported yarn and fabrics. Our textile mill owners, I suppose, have gained enough experience and expertise to undertake new ventures,” he said. BGMEA president said RMG is the key sector for country’s economy. “RMG will earn US$ 50 billion of the targeted US$ 60 billion of country’s total export earning,” he said. BKMEA First Vice President Aslam Sunny urged the government to install LNG terminal, provide uninterrupted gas supply and implement proposed special economic zones for achieving the export target. After the inauguration ceremony, the guests visited stalls at the venue. The three concurrent exhibitions titled ’17th Textech Bangladesh International Expo-2016′, ’10th Dhaka International Yarn & Fabric Show-2016′ and ’25th Dye+Chem Bangladesh International Expo-2016′ are showing modern technology and services related to the RMG sector.
