FROM THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ’ s DESK …
It gives me immense happiness to note that after a somewhat lackadaisical performance last year , apparel exports from Bangladesh is getting back on tracks slowly … Shipments to USA , its second biggest export destination , may not be at its pink yet ( having registered a miniscule 1.5 per cent growth in the first 8 months of FY 2018 ), but exports to the European Union gained momentum recording a growth of 11.7 per cent in this time frame , which is higher than the growth rate for the corresponding period in FY 2017 . In terms of denims , Bangladesh , as expected , is slowly but steadily gaining ground in USA having tapped US $ 35.97 million ( up by 20.13 per cent ) value from export of denim trousers in Men and Boys ( MB ) category while in Women and Girls ( WG ) denim jeans , the South Asian giant shipped jeans worth US $ 30.57 million to US , posting 4.81 per cent growth on the yearly note .
For me what ’ s even more heartening to note is that , Bangladesh well poised for export resurgence once again , has found in its neighbour India , a prospective export destination , which if harnessed properly , could yield good results for the country in future . Bangladesh ’ s apparel exports to India saw a steep climb during the July-March 2018 period – amounting to an increase of more than double – ushering new hopes and possibilities in apparel exports . As per BGMEA data , apparel export to India saw an increase of 111 per cent ( on a point-to-point basis ) in this time period . In monetary terms , the total apparel export amounted to US $ 218 million , from what was US $ 97 million at the same time last year .
My sense of déjà vu about Bangladesh ’ s growth knew no bounds , knowing that the country is not alone in this journey . Sweden , which has been with the Bangladesh garment industry through thick and thin , has pledged to continue its financial assistance towards improving the workplace environment , an area that needs focus for sure . Even the Government is doing its bit to promote the industry in this direction .
For the first time ever , Bangladesh Government has decided to honour 10 RMG factories with the ‘ Occupational Safety and Health ( OSH ) Good Practice Award ’, aimed to promote top-notch sustainability standards in the apparel sector . Even the nongovernmental bodies have joined hands with the industry to make it future-ready . Two NGOs – Better Buying and Ethical Trading Initiative ( ETI ) – have come together to support and promote responsible buying practices within the garment industry supply chain in Bangladesh . As part of this initiative , factories will be invited to evaluate their buyers using Better Buying ’ s online rating platform without disclosing their identity .
However , the country needs to concentrate on some vital areas to ensure that the growth is enduring and robust , more so when China , forced by increasing wages , is leaving in its wake huge business opportunities for others to exploit .
The World Bank , in its Bangladesh Development Update Report , has recently observed that Vietnam fares better than Bangladesh to accommodate the displacement of the global apparel manufacturing shift from China . We should seriously find the reasons for the same and address them immediately , otherwise we will lose the only chance we will ever get .
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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF EDITOR DEPUTY EDITOR COPY EDITOR ASST . COPY EDITOR SUB EDITOR CREATIVE TEAM
PHOTO EDITOR OPERATION DIRECTOR
Deepak Mohindra Ila Saxena Deepankar Shyam Veereshwar Sobti Sahil Sehgal
Priyanka Mishra
Raj Kumar Chahal Peeush Jauhari Satyapal Bisht
Gaurav Naroola Mayank Mohindra
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8 Apparel Online Bangladesh | MAY 2018 | www . apparelresources . com