Apparel Online Bangladesh Magazine April Issue 2019 | Page 38

BANGLADESH CANVAS THE LATEST NEWS HAVE YOUR SAY For the latest news on apparel and textile, make sure that you visit https://apparelresources.com/top-news/ Write to Apparel Resources, B-32, South Extension-1, New Delhi (110049), India or email: [email protected] Epyllion Group wins BGMEA Cup 2019 football tournament The BGMEA (Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association) Cup-2019 football tournament concluded successfully with Epyllion Group emerging better than Bando Design Limited through tiebreaker. In the exciting final played at the Bangladesh Army Stadium, Epyllion Group beat Bando Design Limited by 4-3. This year, a total of 15 teams divided into three groups took part in the event. Among the participating teams were Comfit Composite Knit Ltd. (Champion of 2018), Self Innovative Fashions, Fortis Group, Apparel Industry Ltd., Mask Group, Versatile Fashions, Umpire Garments, Laila Styles, Sterling Group, Ali Garments, Tusuka Group and Torque Fashions. In the pulsating final, neither of the teams could make any breakthrough in the first half. However, the second half witnessed both Epyllion and Bando find each others’ net once. With no decisive result coming in the stipulated time, the winner of the final was decided via tiebreaker. Bappi of Epyllion Group was reportedly awarded the man of the match while Raju (of Epyllion Group) took the award of best goalkeeper. Mridul of Bando Design Limited was adjudged the best player of the tournament. Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi handed over the champion and runner-up trophies while Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Md Siddiqur Rahman, Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) President Md. Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin, Former BGMEA President and footballer Abdus Salam Murshedy were amongst those who attended the final match. Bangladesh to import more cotton from US if given duty benefits on RMG made of US cotton The garment manufacturers in Bangladesh are ready to import more cotton from the United States of America provided the latter agrees to offer duty benefits on apparel items made from US cotton, claimed media reports. As per the report, Md Siddiqur Rahman, President, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA),  made this proposal at a meeting with the US Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl R Miller in the capital recently. “Since Bangladesh is the largest importer of cotton, we could import more cotton from the USA. In that case, we need to know what kind of duty benefits the US Government will offer on the export of clothing made of US cotton,” Siddiqur reportedly told the scribes after his meeting with Earl R Miller. It may be mentioned here that as per Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA), Bangladesh which does not enjoy duty-free market access facility for apparel products in the US, imports nearly 8 million bales of cotton from across the world annually, of which 6.93 per cent is from the USA. During his meeting, Siddiqur reportedly also informed the US envoy that Bangladeshi spinners are keen to set up spinning mills 38 Apparel Online Bangladesh | APRIL 2019 | www.apparelresources.com in the USA, if US grants tariff benefits for RMG made with yarn imported from such factories in the USA. “I told the US Ambassador that a few spinners showed keen interest to establish spinning mills in your country and they will invest to produce yarn if the US Government offers duty benefits for RMG goods exported to the US, made of US cotton,” reportedly underlined the BGMEA President while talking to the press. Siddiqur reportedly also maintained that duty-free market access will ultimately benefit US consumers and increase bilateral trade as well as help Bangladesh in creating more jobs.