Faruque Hassan, president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), articulated this plea during a meeting with Md Mustafizur Rahman, Bangladesh’s high commissioner to India, convened in New Delhi recently.

The discussion centred on the prevalent challenges in both export and import domains, with a notable emphasis on non-tariff barriers, particularly within the textile product trade.

The BGMEA, in a statement, outlined the deliberations and shared insights into potential remedies for these issues.

Earlier, at the ‘Building Resilient Value Chains - India as Global Sourcing Destination’ forum organised by the Indian Ministry of Textiles and the Consortium of the Export Promotion Councils in New Delhi, Faruque elucidated the harmonious potential between the strengths of both the nations.

Acknowledging India’s textile prowess and Bangladesh’s demonstrated excellence in apparel manufacturing, Faruque highlighted the abundant opportunities for mutual growth.

He said, “As we pursue an ambitious growth agenda, fostering knowledge exchange, technological collaboration, and closer ties between our nations would yield mutual benefits.”

The panel discussion, moderated by Girish Menon, managing director of Stride Partners, featured industry stalwarts including Mohammad Hatem from Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), Vipin Tiwari from Target Sourcing Services, Nitin Prasad from PVH Corp India, Yatin Kirori from Bestseller, and Asker Laubjerg from KAS Group Asia.

Faruque stressed the imperative of a regional value chain, advocating for an interconnected framework comprising ‘raw material supply,’ ‘production networks,’ and ‘marketing networks.’

“A collaborative supply chain is essential to leverage our respective strengths and foster collective growth,” he underlined.

“The RMG industry of Bangladesh is heavily investing in machinery, technology, and skill development to enhance the competitiveness of our readymade garment sector in the global market,” highlighted the BGMEA president even as he underscored that these investments aim not only to drive cost efficiency and operational excellence but also to champion sustainable practices, thereby positively impacting the environment.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DR)