CHITTAGONG, Feb 4 (BSS): Commerce Minister Faruk Khan said the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) would be empowered to issue the certificate of origin (CO) to its members in addition to the current authority to issue Utilization Declaration (UD) and Utilization Permission (UP) while importing capital machinery at a rebate tax rate.

The minister was speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony of the CAFAXPO-2010 Thursday here.

In response to a long pending crucial demand of the BGMEA, Faruk Khan said, "The administrative process is on to empower the BGMEA to this effect aiming at expediting the overall export and growth of the sector."

The minister also announced that the government had taken a decision to establish a full-fledged 'bond commissionerate' that would take place soon so that entrepreneurs from Chittagong would not need to visit Dhaka for availing themselves the bond licence.

He urged the entrepreneurs to put in integrated efforts to turn Bangladesh into a top readymade garments (RMG) exporting country across the globe from the present status of three by cashing the incentives of the government offers for steady growth of the sector.

The three-day Chittagong Apparel, Fabric and Accessories Exposition-2010 (CAFAXPO-2010), an annual gala show of the RMG sector under the aegis of the BGMEA, is being held at CJKS Gymnasium in the port city with the participation of 52 local and foreign enterprises showcasing their latest tools and technologies as well as services.

With BGMEA President Abdus Salam Murshedy in the chair, Minister Councillor of Japan Embassy in Dhaka Takanori Uehara and BGMEA First Vice-President Nasir Uddin Chowdhury, among others, spoke at the function.