Apparel Online Bangladesh Magazine December Issue 2018 | Page 10

MINDTREE
Q-and-A
Bangladesh’s apparel exports to India continue to skyrocket with 167 per cent growth during the first
three months of fiscal 2018-19. As per EPB data, apparel exports to India stood over US $ 145 million
during July-September 2018, which was US $ 54.3 million in the corresponding period in the last fiscal.
What are your views on India as an emerging export destination?
Please share your views on the same.
Sayed Tanvir,
Director, Pacific Jeans
It’s not merely the business practices which play to one’s advantage,
sharing common boundaries makes client servicing an even easier
proposition from Bangladesh’s perspective. If any discussion is required,
it is so easy to fly over and sort it out directly. After all, most Bangladeshis
are comfortable travelling to India on regular holidays and even shopping.
Md. Siddiqur Rahman,
BGMEA President
India is a very prospective market from Bangladesh’s perspective. Even
from the retailers’ viewpoint, especially those operating in India, the 20
per cent duty benefit that they would get importing from Bangladesh
vis-à-vis other countries is quite substantial and it makes more sense for
them to source from Bangladesh.
Faruque Hassan,
MD, Giant Group
We are hearing so much about the growth of the retail segment in India,
spearheaded by a young population willing to pay for good quality
brands. The upcoming event being organised by Apparel Resources is a
great opportunity to make a presentation of our capabilities to the brands
and retailers in India that are looking for something fresh.
Humayun Rashid, MD,
Energypac Fashions Limited
India has a very resourceful service industry, while the manufacturing
segment, especially in apparel, is not as strong. I sincerely believe that
the two countries should get into supply chain together in RMG; if we join
hands we can actually beat China.
M.A. Jabbar,
MD, DBL Group
Asif Ibrahim,
Managing Director, Newage Group
No one can ignore the potential of the retail market in India. It is a huge
market that is still unexplored, and with Tier-2 and Tier-3 segment now
joining the retail landscape the size of the market is simply mind-blowing.
I have always felt that because of the geographical proximity, India
could be a big export market for Bangladeshi RMG products. India
now has established reputed local brands which cater to the demands
of millions of Indians who are looking for quality apparel products in
trendy and attractive designs. India has also given us preferential
trade concessions for exporting our readymade garments and we
as Bangladeshi manufacturers must look to establish contacts with
prominent Indian retail companies and try to develop a long-term
business relationship based upon mutual trust and benefit. I am excited
to see the 167 per cent growth achieved in the last fiscal from exports to
India, and I am confident that this is just the beginning. I look forward to
this upward growth trajectory to remain stable for years to come. Fashion in India is very near to the fashion one would find in the West, so we
see a huge scope for our fashion knitwear in the Indian market. While many
may say that sweaters is not a ‘hot’ category for India, I am very excited to
take my products to the ‘Apparel Sourcing Week’ and show the retailers our
design competences.
Arshad Jamal,
Director, Tusuka Group Khosru Chowdhury,
Chairman & MD, NIPA Group
The experience of the highly publicised Lilliput case, wherein the retailer
declared bankruptcy and millions of dollars were left pending, has made
most exporters in Bangladesh very cautious when approaching India. We have been working for Woodland for seven years and have never
faced any problem. But now that other Bangladesh firms are also getting
on to the bandwagon, the prices being offered earlier have been declined.
Enayetuddin Md. Kaiser Khan,
MD, Sonia & Sweaters Limited
10 Apparel Online Bangladesh | December 2018 | www.apparelresources.com