RMG growth needs fair politics: Amir Khasru

Former commerce minister and president of Chittagong City BNP Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said that the country will have to come out of traditional conflicting politics for sustainable growth in readymade garments (RMG) sector. As the country’s economy has almost become dependent on the RMG sector, any turmoil in the sector will lead to an economic disaster, he feared.

BNP has always been committed to supporting the development of the sector and hence the party has exempted RMG sector from political programme like hartal, he said, adding that his party would continue support to the sector in future.

He was addressing as chief guest at the closing ceremony of three-day CAFAXPO-2012 on the Gymnasium premises of MA Aziz stadium here on Saturday evening.

Kharu said if BNP comes to power in future, it would extend all out co-operation to solve all the existing problems in the sector and take initiatives to construct permanent exhibition centres both in Dhaka and Chittagong so that the BGMEA and other trade bodies do not need to hold fairs in open fields.

Reminding the contribution of BNP to the development of RMG sector, he said Bonded Warehouse facility was the base of RMG sector and it was introduced by the founder of the party late president Ziaur Rahman.

Chaired by Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin, president of BGMEA, the closing session was also addressed by former state minister for environment and forest Jafrul Islam Chowdhury MP, first vice-president of BGMEA Nasir Uddin Chowdhury and the chairman of BGMEA standing committee for CAFAXPO-2012 SM Abu Tayub.

Nasiruddin Chowdhury said the fair is not for selling and buying products. “It is mainly for displaying our capability, potential and latest development in the RMG sector.” He said more than 5,000 guests visited the fair till Saturday evening.

Mohammad Shahidul Alam Chowdhury, assistant manager of Chittagong Denim Limited, who had a stall in the fair, told The Independent that a good number of local and foreign buyers visited the fair and their response was very positive. “We are looking forward to having good quantity of order following the fair.”

 

Source: The Independent, Sun, 22/01/2012

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BATEXPO 2010 begins today

The 21st Bangladesh Apparel and Textile Exposition 2010 begins today at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the city.

Finance minister AMA Muhith is expected to inaugurate the three-day exposition organised by the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers’ and Exporters’ Association, BGMEA president Abdus Salam Murshedy told a news conference on Wednesday.

The leader of the opposition in parliament Khaleda Zia has been invited as the chief guest of the closing ceremony of the event on Saturday, he said.

At the BATEXPO 2010 the country’s apparel industry expects to bag spot orders worth more than the 41.64 million dollars’ worth of orders received at the BATEXPO 2009, Murshedy said.

Despite the adverse impact of global recession in the last fiscal year, the country’s apparel industry has achieved a 38 per cent growth over the past four months of the current fiscal year, he told the newspersons.

He called on the authorities concerned to arrange for bank loans at single-digit interest to ensure a sustainable growth of the apparel industry.

The exposition, he said, has been arranged to put on display the developments in local textile, backward linkages, product diversification, and locally-made textile accessories.

Of the total 137 stalls set up in the expo venue, 45 are allotted to BGMEA members for displaying their products, 11 for locally-made accessories, 10 for locally-produced fabrics, four for garment technology, seven for imported garment accessories, 23 for imported fabrics, four for new innovations, 12 for the service providers, 18 for the sponsors and co-sponsors, and three for other bodies concerned.

The BGMEA president said two seminars on ‘how to meet the future challenges facing the apparel industry’ would be held on the sidelines of the exhibition on Thursday and Friday.’

On Saturday the BGMEA will launch three publications, Murshedy said.

A gala fashion show and a cultural function will be held on the BICC premises on Thursday and Friday, he said, adding that a total of 89 business establishments from India, Pakistan, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand, and Bangladesh were taking part in the expo.

-New Age, Thu, 25/11/2010

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