Don’t put apparel makers under price pressure: Shahriar

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam has urged readymade garment (RMG) brands and buyers not to put Bangladesh’s apparel exporters under price pressure, as a review of workers’ pay is due next year amid soaring inflation and global economic headwinds.

Making the request while addressing the inauguration ceremony of Dhaka Apparel Summit 2022 on Tuesday, Shahriar said, “The export destination countries should take our current circumstances under consideration, as the workers’ salary review is scheduled in 2023.

“The government is engaged in bilateral negotiations with the buyer nations to help sustain RMG industry growth and get fair prices from them. Our RMG industry faces no threat to survival. The important thing is how fast we can grow.”

He added, “We are currently the second largest apparel exporter in the world, and we are working on reducing our gap with China – the number one. Our industry continued to expand even during crisis periods.

“During the Covid crisis, RMG factories remained closed only for 10-15 days. After reopening the industry, the decision was criticised by many. But because of this decision, the sector achieved record growth in 2021.

Former president of BGMEA Abdus Salam Murshedy said, “Prices of raw materials and utility services rose sharply due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. But the prices of goods are not increasing, instead, it is going down.

“Buyers are our partners and should take into consideration our issues.”   

Meanwhile, BGMEA President Faruque Hassan said “Bangladesh is probably one of the safest and cleanest apparel manufacturing countries in the world, which offers the best sustainable solution to our valued clients.

“We have to continue this momentum we have achieved in sustainability. But first and foremost, we need to upgrade our business model. With only 8 per cent of the global market share, we have huge potential ahead of us.”

He continued, “So the next story of transformation should be around how we can go for innovation, up-gradation, value addition, diversification, and the 4th Industrial revolution. We envision the sector to be more diversified in terms of products, fibres and markets.

“Foreign investments would be a great way to address all these priority issues. Whereas 75 per cent of the global textile and clothing consumption is non-cotton, only 25 per cent of our exports are non-cotton. This means that we are not taking advantage of such a huge opportunity.”