Bangladesh garment industry will start journey on a new path of progress, industry people say, as the Dhaka Apparel Summit 2017 ended late on Saturday opening a window of opportunity to flourish further. Nearly 100 foreign buyers including four top brands- H&M, Inditex, C&A, Next and Tchibo participated in the summit, the biggest event of the country’s garments and textile sector and shared valuable ideas on the industry issues ranging from product diversification to labour movements, compulsion to compliance and price mobility to growth sustainability. “As the storm had subsided, thanks to prudent initiative of the government, we could make the Dhaka Apparel Summit 2017 a great success with active and heartiestparticipation of potential foreign buyers including top brands” Siddiqur Rahman, President of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) said. After a tripartite meeting with the government BGMEA and garment union leaders, foreign buyers including the top four brands decided to join the summit. “This has made the summit as a great success and enabled us to chalk out our next course of plan for a better tomorrow”, BGMEA chief said.BGMEA is now scrutinizing the minutes of the summit to make next action plan to revamp the growth of the industry. “Through interactions and interpretations among industry people, researchers and our buyers, we have learned a lot which will drive the growth in the days ahead”.After the incidence of Rana Plaza, he said building a risk-free and compliant RMG sector had become a great challenge for the government. A total of 600 factories were shut down over the years since the tragic incidence in 2013. “A lot of developments have been made in our garment factories over the years. Most of the buyers expressed satisfactions over the progress as more than 58 per cent of compliance issues have already been solved. More than 100 factories are likely to be closed and more than 40 green factories to be set up by this year”, Siddiqur Rahman, BGMEA president told the daily. Earlier, top brands retailers pulled out of this summit expressing their concerns over a crackdown on unions demanding better pay in textile factories. This “unprecedented” decision was a “major embarrassment” for the government and BGMEA.Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the day-long largest expo at Hotel Pan Pacific Sonargoan in the capital and called upon brands and buyers to help garment industry owners overhaul their factories. The premier also laid stress on diversifying products and expanding markets to boost export earnings. She also put emphasis on adopting short, medium and long-term plans for boosting demands for Bangladeshi readymade garment (RMG) products in the world market.The second edition of the “Dhaka Apparel Summit 2017″ was aimed at securing a more sustainable apparel supply Chain. Most participants including local garment owners and foreign buyers were in upbeat mood during the summit and expressed their optimism over the growth of the industry.”We can solve our problems by dialogue, not by boycotting anything. The government’s initiative was a good initiative and the joining of top brands is a fantastic”, said Tuomo Poutiainen, Programme Manager of ILO RMG Project office in Dhaka.The garment industry in Bangladesh employs some four million people and contributes 82 percent of country’s export income – a total of $28.1 billion last year, up 33 percent from three years prior. Recently, protests in Bangladesh have erupted over low wages in the face of inflation and the rising cost of living. Currently, the minimum wage in Bangladesh is 32 cents an hour, with a monthly minimum wages of about 68 dollars. In late Dec., an organized walkout led to the firing of almost 1500 workers and the indefinite detainment of at least 14 protest leaders and workers. Labor rights group say the mounting arrests and tensions are the worst setback for workers’ rights since the 2013 collapse of Rana Plaza.
