Garment makers will no more need to collect testing certificates from foreign companies as they have set up their own laboratory in Dhaka.

The lab will enable the exporters to complete necessary chemical tests of exportable apparel items for certification.

Commerce Minister GM Quader inaugurated the lab at the BGMEA building on Wednesday.

Primarily, 22 different types of tests, mainly the chemical ones, of exportable garment items will be conducted at the lab and in future BGMEA will enhance its capacity.

The lab has been set up with the financial support of Spanish retail giant in clothing Inditex, while Switzerland-based pre-shipment company SGS is providing technical support, said Shafiul Islam, president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).

Its full-fledged operation will begin in three months, Mohiuddin said, adding that it has already been recognised by different international bodies.

Initially, a total of $1million has been spent for setting up the lab, he said.

The trade body signed a deal with Inditex at Luck AÑO in Spain on April 29 to set up the lab.

At present, apparel exporters test the samples of exportable goods from different foreign testing firms at high costs for certification.

Shafiul Islam said a good portion of the lab's earning will be spent on the welfare of the workers as the lab will be run on a non-profit basis.