BGMEA DAILY DIGEST
News published in media related to RMG: Today’s RMG News

The Business Post
BGMEA, Oxfam to collaborate on fair price issue A delegation from Oxfam comprising members from Oxfam Australia and Canada met with BGMEA President Faruque Hassan at the BGMEA Complex in Uttara. The delegation members included Nayeem Emran, Economic Justice Advisor, Oxfam Australia; Bella McMahon, Policy Advocacy and Campaigns Support Officer, Oxfam Australia; Mwangala Matakala, Campaigns and Outreach Officer, Oxfam Canada; and Md Razu Ahmad Masum, Programme Officer, CJNRR, Oxfam in Bangladesh. Chair of BGMEA Standing Committee on Foreign Mission Cell Shams Mahmud was also present at the meeting. At the meeting, both sides put emphasis on the importance of the issue of ethical buying practices and fair prices to build a more resilient supply chain where the rights and welfare of garment workers are well cared for.

The Business Standard
BGMEA urges UGC to pave way for higher education in fashion and textile-related subjects BGMEA President Faruque Hassan has urged the University Grants Commission (UGC) to create more opportunities for Bangladeshi students to pursue higher studies in fashion and textile-related subjects. "We have talented students and if we can provide them with market-oriented skills and knowledge, we will able to turn them into human resources who will be able to play a vital role in propelling the next phase of development of Bangladesh," Faruque Hassan said while exchanging views with UGC Chairman Professor Dr Kazi Shahidullah at UGC office in Dhaka. Former president of BGMEA Kutubuddin Ahmed and of BGMEA Director Asif Ashraf were present during the meeting.

UNB
Young will drive economic growth of Bangladesh: BGMEA President BGMEA President Faruque Hassan has laid emphasis on providing young people with the skills, knowledge, and resources they need to succeed in the business world as they achievements would contribute to building a more prosperous and better Bangladesh. “We have a young and vibrant population that has the potential to drive economic growth and lead Bangladesh to the position we aspire to reach,” he said.Faruque Hassan made the observations while addressing the opening ceremony of the “1ST DRMC National Business Carnival 2023” as chief guest in Dhaka on March 10. Principal of DRMC Brigadier General Kazi Shameem Farhad, ndc, ps chaired the opening ceremony. The business carnival organized by Dhaka Residential Model College’s Business and Career Club is being held from 10 to 12 March at the college campus with 23 amazing segments to participate in. The carnival is supported by BGMEA.

The Daily Sun
BGMEA-Jack to collaborate in building capacity of RMG sector in technologies A delegation of Jack, a leading Chinese sewing machine manufacturer, called on BGMEA President Faruque Hassan at BGMEA Complex in Uttara. The delegation included Qiu Yangyou , Vice President of Jack Group; Li Fengzhi. Marketing Director of Asia; Allan Chan, Marketing Manager of Bangladesh; Feng Lidong, Sales Manager of Bangladesh; Chen Yue, Vice GM of Product Solution Department and Ying Zhenhua, Director of Lockstitch Products.

The Financial Express
BGMEA urges govt to review MoS recent rule: Foreign vessels' waiver certificate BGMEA President Faruk Hassan wrote a letter to the MoS on 02 March, requesting it to review the matter. The trade-body said there would be severe impediments in movement of local garment exports, if the foreign feeder operators are flushed out under the Act, or if they withdraw their Bangladesh coverage. The BGMEA letter noted that under the foregoing circumstances, the requirement of waiver certificate has no rationale, as Bangladeshi flag vessels' carrying capacity is hardly 9.0 per cent of the total. It clearly implies that the country's 91 per cent trade is dependent on foreign feeder vessels.

The Financial Express
Apparel export to US rises 15.44pc in Jan When asked, BGMEA President Faruque Hassan said the performance in the US market was 'very good' - considering the US overall import along with local and global economic situations. The BGMEA president highlighted their efforts, including manufacturing value-added garments as well as product diversification - especially producing non-cotton-based garment, behind the growth. "Besides, high prices of raw materials raised the apparel unit prices, while local makers are producing value-added items that also helped to raise the earning." Furthermore, Bangladesh bagged some orders, shifted from China amid the China-America trade spat, he noted.

The New Age
RMG exports to US, Germany decline ‘The western economy is facing a serious blow caused by the Russia-Ukraine war and the demand for apparel has been decreasing,’ said Arshad Jamal Dipu, chairman of Tushuka Group. He said that buyers had been placing orders 30 per cent less than what they did in the previous year and some buyers had been holding the shipment of finished goods. The businessman said that the increase in policy rate by the Federal Reserve System of the United States indicated that the global economy was facing a severe setback. Recently, BGMEA president Faruque Hassan claimed that that the flow of global orders started decreasing again due to an economic slowdown in the importing countries. He said that many global buyers are placing orders in small quantities, some are putting their work orders on hold and some are putting their shipments on hold as retailers had stockpiles of apparel items in their stores due to high inflation.

The Dhaka Tribune
RMG exports to the US, Germany slowed down in Jul-Feb of FY23 Talking to Dhaka Tribune, Shahidullah Azim, vice-president of BGMEA, said that the growth in apparel shipment was based on value. As raw materials were costly, it was not a quantity growth, he added.He also said that the situation between the EU and the US is not so good and they aren't seeing any positive signs in the coming three or four months. However, the situation may improve after June or July. BGMEA Director Mohiuddin Rubel said that the exports to the US have declined and it may continue for the coming months due to inflation and economic turmoil. “However, we are getting inquiries for 2024. Maybe things will be better then,” he added, saying that the situation in Europe is still good. But the growth in Germany was negative, which is a concern. “We have to observe the situation,” he added.

RTV Online
দেশের ইতিহাসে সবচেয়ে বড় আন্তর্জাতিক সম্মেলন বিজনেস সামিট প্রায় ৫০০ কোটি ডলার জিডিপির বাংলাদেশের লক্ষ্য ২০৪১ সালের মধ্যে এক ট্রিলিয়ন ডলার অর্থনীতির সক্ষমতা অর্জন করা। এ লক্ষ্যকে সামনে রেখে শনিবার (১১ মার্চ) শুরু হতে যাচ্ছে দেশের ইতিহাসে সবচেয়ে বড় আন্তর্জাতিক সম্মেলন ‘বাংলাদেশ বিজনেস সামিট-২০২৩’। প্রতিষ্ঠার ৫০ বছর উদযাপন উপলক্ষে বিজনেস সামিটের আয়োজন করেছে ব্যবসায়ীদের শীর্ষ সংগঠন এফবিসিসিআই। বিজিএমইএ’র সহসভাপতি শহিদুল্লাহ আজিম বলেন, আমাদের দেশে আরও বেশি বিদেশি বায়ার আসুক এবং তারা আমদের শিল্প প্রতিষ্ঠানগুলোতে আবারও বিনিয়োগ করুক। ব্যবসায়ীরা বলছেন, সামিটের মাধ্যমে বাংলাদেশ হতে পারে বৈশ্বিক বিনিয়োগের অন্যতম প্রধান কেন্দ্র।

The Dhaka Tribune
Apparel export to the US sees 15.43% rise in Jan’23 According to recent data given by the Commerce Department's Office of Textiles and Apparel (Otexa), garment exports to the United States increased by 15.43% year on year to $867.64 million in January, the first month of 2023, up from $751.67 million in the same month in 2022. Bangladesh ranked third in its single largest export destination behind China and Vietnam in January 2023, with a market share of 8.84%. BGMEA Director Mohiuddin Rubel told Dhaka Tribune that they were concerned about the US market, saying that growth in the US market may be negative in January but has since turned positive, demonstrating Bangladesh's strength. There are two months' gap in Otexa data, so the situations are always not reflected well, he also said.

The Business Post
Rise of a hearty, humane industrialist Md Khosru Chowdhury started his career as a private job holder in the textile sector with a salary of Tk 7,000 per month in 1993, but after 30 years, he now has eight manufacturing factories that generated $160 million in revenue last year. In addition to taking care of his continuously growing business, he is now also involved in social work and politics, establishing schools, and hospitals, and constructing roads. As part of carrying out his social responsibilities, he is now developing the livelihood of the people of his ancestral village, setting up a jute factory.

The Business Post
Exports to US down 2.29% as crisis lingers Bangladesh failed to retain export growth in the US market during the first seven months of FY23 due to the slow growth there caused by the ongoing global economic crisis. Nipa Group Managing Director Md Khosru Chowdhury said one of his American buyers had cancelled orders for seven lakh pieces of clothes worth $2.4 million last month while another was yet to clear payments of $7 million. “The market situation in the US and Europe is very bad. Our US orders have dropped by 30 per cent. However, buyers said they would gradually increase orders after April while the situation will improve after this fiscal year.”

The Dhaka Tribune
Sustainable Apparel Forum 2023 to promote sustainable apparel production in Bangladesh A conference and exhibition on March 16 will spotlight opportunities for sustainable clothing production in Bangladesh. More than 60 renowned speakers and 20 exhibitors presenting green production technologies will be present. Issues on the agenda include circularity, CO2 reductions and climate action, shifting to renewable energy and human rights due diligence. The Sustainable Apparel Forum (SAF), whose 4th edition will take place on March 16 in Dhaka, has become firmly established as a showcase event for fashion sourcing executives in recent years.

বাংলা নিউজ২৪
দেশের অর্থনৈতিক প্রবৃদ্ধি আসবে তরুণদের হাত ধরে: বিজিএমইএ সভাপতি বাংলাদেশের তরুণরা যাতে ব্যবসায়িক জগতে সফল হতে পারে, সেজন্য তাদের প্রয়োজনীয় দক্ষতা, জ্ঞান এবং রিসোর্স নিয়ে পরিপূর্ণ করে তোলার ওপর গুরুত্বারোপ করেছেন বিজিএমইএ সভাপতি ফারুক হাসান। ব্যবসায়িক ক্ষেত্রে তরুণদের সফলতা আরও সমৃদ্ধশালী উন্নত বাংলাদেশ গড়তে ভূমিকা রাখবে বলে মনে করেন তিনি।ফারুক হাসান ১০ মার্চ ২০২৩ ঢাকায় ১ম ডিআরএমসি ন্যাশনাল বিজনেস কার্নিভাল ২০২৩-এর উদ্বোধনী অনুষ্ঠানে প্রধান অতিথির বক্তব্যে এসব কথা বলেন। উদ্বোধনী অনুষ্ঠানে সভাপতিত্ব করেন ডিআরএমসির অধ্যক্ষ ব্রিগেডিয়ার জেনারেল কাজী শামীম ফরহাদ। 

The Business Standard
Team Group's Nidle takes RMG manufacturing to new heights The Team Group, a leading apparel maker in the country, has managed to increase its production up to 12% with a digital solution called 'Nidle' that comes with a compact manufacturing execution system. By digitising the process, Nidle has solved the said problems while improving the productivity, efficiency and transparency of the apparel factories of the Team Group, said the managing director. "In Nidle, we have inserted IoT devices [computing devices with the ability to process and transmit data wirelessly] in each sewing machine from where we get real-time data regarding the productivity of the workers and the production line's bottle-neck related critical information without any human intervention," Abdullah Hil Rakib said. 

The Financial Express
Women workers' ratio in RMG industry on decline The proportion of women workers in the country's readymade garment (RMG) industry continued to decline and stood at approximately 54 per cent in 2021, according to a latest report. Caring for children was cited as the main reason for leaving the garment industry followed by pregnancy and discrimination for being pregnant, age appropriateness, difficulty in balancing work and home responsibilities and working conditions including harassment, violence, long working hours and low salaries.The changes also have significant implications on women's economic empowerment and the well-being of their families and communities, stated the report, titled 'The declining women workers in the Bangladesh RMG industry'.

Textile Focus
Twelve clothing presents Fashion Show “Twelve Runway” Twelve sister concerns of Team Group is a popular name right now in Bangladesh’s fashion fraternity. This Eid Ul Fitr, Twelve organized a fashion show “Twelve Runway”. On 10 January, Friday half a hundred models from the country participated in this fashion show organized on the roof of Le Meridien Hotel in the capital. All the popular celebrities of the entertainment world were in this fashion show organized by Azra Mahmud. Besides, this fashion show was organized as a meeting place for the country’s best journalists. In addition, the privileged customers of Twelve were also present.