Once dependent on overseas players for accessories, Bangladesh is now self-sufficient in terms of accessories manufacturing, thereby providing ample support to the country’s apparel sector, the main foreign currency earner and lifeline to Bangladesh’s economy.
According to media reports, the situation started improving after 1990 when local accessories’ makers started setting up factories to produce accessories even as businesspeople, reportedly, pumped in Taka 40,000 crore in the last 15 years, building garment accessories and packaging industry to help serve the burgeoning apparel sector.
Meanwhile, speaking to the media, the Director of the Bangladesh Garments Accessories & Packaging Manufacturers & Exporters Association, Al Shahriar Ahmed, reportedly, said the sector is working as a backward linkage industry and is growing in keeping with the growth of the apparel sector even as MD of Khan Accessories & Packaging Company Ltd., Abdul Kader Khan, reportedly, underlined the sector can supply nearly 90 percent of locally made buttons although the production process is a bit complex while underlining garment manufacturers need to import only around 10 percent buttons, which are of special kinds, keeping with the buyers’ requirements and went on to further state more than 30 vital accessories (such as zippers, buttons, cartons, poly bags, hangers, and packaging materials are needed to make a complete and exportable garment item) while adding the sub-sector is capable of supplying almost all of the 30 items except some specialized components.
