A section of international buyers has informed the Bangladeshi apparel exporters that they would reduce their existing export orders by 15-30 per cent amid an adverse impact of coronavirus outbreak in China and its subsequent spreading to many other countries across the world, said Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association president Rubana Huq on Wednesday. She told reporters at a programme in Dhaka that they were getting three types of requests, including reduction in the volume of export orders, from international buyers due to the epidemic. Some buyers are requesting to make air shipment of export products while the others are seeking discount on prices, she said. ‘They are arguing that demand for readymade garment products are declining as many brand shops in the countries affected by coronavirus are shut down as a measure to contain infection,’ she said. So, there is no doubt that the export sector will severely be affected due to the epidemic, she said, adding that the question was now what the degree of the damage would be. The BGMEA is also in close contact with the international buyers working in Bangladesh, she added. Rubana said that only one international buyer, out of 41 members of buyers’ forum based in Bangladesh, said that they felt some risks in business while others said there were no risks. Later, the lone international buyer also withdrew its observation following communication of the BGMEA, she said. The government is assuring about all types of policy support to exporters to face the impact, she said. There was a meeting held on Tuesday with the prime minister’s principal secretary, Ahmad Kaikaus, where a number of secretaries also attended, to discuss the issue, she added. ‘We requested the government to keep ready a disaster fund to support the exporters when needed,’ she said. The BGMEA also requested the Bangladesh Bank to extend all-out support so that exporters did not face any problem in banking related to the release of goods which were now reaching the country after a delay due to the outbreak. Members of the BGMEA were also asked to inform their individual problems they faced in the situation, she said.
