Blog

Bangladesh RMG industry needs innovation, but the risks must be managed by Bill Humphries

Bangladesh’s position in the RMG industry is based on its bountiful supply of cheap labour and the relatively simple technology needed to establish an RMG enterprise. Foreign investment has been important in the growth of the industry although local investment is playing its part.  There is now considerable discussion on the need to establish a backward linkage industry to ensure the future sustainability of the RMG industry as fast fashion trends increasingly require short lead times. Although the industry is [...]

Stakeholder mapping, engagement strategies crucial for RMG industry by Shaharbanu Ahmed

The readymade garment (RMG) industry is the leading sector in Bangladesh in terms of foreign exchange earnings. The sector witnessed on average 16 per cent year-on-year growth since 1990 up to fiscal 2015-16, according to Policy Research Institute of Bangladesh. Bangladesh holds the second position in global market share of RMG with a rate of 6.4 per cent. Vietnam holds the third position with a market share of 5.5 per cent, India has a market share of 4 per [...]

Labour rights better now: BGMEA chief

Labour rights situation in the country’s readymade garment sector has improved in recent years thanks to the mid-level managements and workers for reducing their gap, according to BGMEA president Siddiqur Rahman. “The gap reduced due to training and social dialogue launched through different initiatives,” he told the FE in an interview. There were laws of the land and rules of labour law, which were protecting the workers’ rights, he said, adding that the trainings and social dialogues were being provided by [...]

Ethiopia: A new competitor for Bangladesh RMG export?-by Zillul Hye Razi

During last few years, a lot of positive reports and studies were published showing Ethiopia becoming a major clothing or apparel source for the EU and US importers. In 2014, one Bangladeshi corporate body, the DBL Group, expressed interest to invest in Ethiopia. In 2016 it announced that with an investment of US dollar 100 million, a composite knit factory in Ethiopia will start functioning from February 2017. DBL is supported by Swedish RMG buyer H&M with a US$ [...]

A unique platform for the global textile value-chain by Christian Schindler

The International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF) is one of the oldest non-governmental and non-profit international trade organisations. It was founded in 1904 and comprises members from the textile, textile machinery, and fibre industries. These members come from all five continents and represent the majority part of the world’s textile production. The ITMF has three different member categories: 1) Member Associations This category comprises national textile associations representing the countries’ textile industries. 2) Associate Members This category comprises associations from other industries affiliated with [...]

Technology, trade, climate: Orientation in disruptive times by Olivier Zieschank and Mehdi Mahbub

Switzerland-based International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF) is one of the oldest global organisations, which has been serving the world textile sector since 1904. This knowledge-based body is an international forum for the world’s textile industries, dedicated to keep its worldwide members constantly informed through surveys, studies and publications, participating in the evolution of the industry’s value chain and organising annual conferences as well as publishing considered opinions on future trends and international developments. The recent ITMF Annual Conference 2017 has [...]

Policy support in powering accessories sector ahead by Abdul Kader Khan

The local accessories makers meet more than 90 per cent of the country’s readymade garment (RMG) sector’s demand and also that of the pharmaceuticals, leather, frozen fish and agro-based industries, especially in the form of packaging products. The sector now imports only 5-10 per cent of the accessories as referred to by the buyers while the rest of the demand is sourced locally. Add to it the 20 per cent of the accessories now directly being exported to the global [...]

Encouraging investment thru’ economic zones for rapid economic growth by A Z M Azizur Rahman

Investment is the prime vehicle for a country’s overall development and progress, especially in the developing countries like Bangladesh. The contribution of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and local investment in the economic sector is immense. Investment is inextricably linked to foreign exchange earning, poverty alleviation, employment generation, technology transfer, skill development, export growth, development of backward and forward linkage industries, establishment of satellite town and service-oriented and supportive service industries and overall economic emancipation of the people. So, rapid [...]

Effective communication — a vital tool for building positive image of RMG sector by Riaz Khan

The readymade garment (RMG) industry is the leading sector in Bangladesh in terms of foreign exchange earnings. It accounts for 80 per cent of total export earnings. In Bangladesh, 4.4 million people are working in around 5,000 garments factories and approximately 80 per cent of them are female. Bangladesh is the second largest RMG exporter worldwide after China. China’s market share is around 31 per cent of the global garment market of $450b while Bangladesh holds 5.0 per cent, as [...]

Enterprise-based training: The need of the hour of RMG industry by Mehdi Mahbub

The readymade garment (RMG) sector is one of the economic lifelines of the country, but a bottleneck hampers the efficiency and productivity of the industry significantly. It is a hard fact that the industry has been suffering from a lack of skilled workforce. Enterprise-based training (EBT) is a must for development of the RMG and textile sector. It is a process of teaching or learning particular skills, knowledge or attitude on the premises of the enterprise and at the [...]