Meaningful bilateral cooperation between Bangladesh and Turkey can open up new opportunities for both countries to boost trade and investment.

Bangladesh and Turkey have huge scope of complementing each other in various sectors, including in the textile and garment industry and it would yield mutual benefits.

The optimism was expressed when Ambassador of Turkey to Bangladesh H. E. Ramis Sen paid a courtesy call on BGMEA President Faruque Hassan at BGMEA Complex in Uttara, Dhaka on July 12.

BGMEA Vice President Shahidullah Azim, Chair of BGMEA Standing Committee on Press, Publication and Publicity Shovon Islam and Chair of BGMEA Standing Committee on Foreign Mission Cell Shams Mahmud were also present at the meeting. 

During the meeting, they discussed various issues of mutual interests including potential areas of trade and investment.

The scope of discussion also spanned from collaboration in the development of textile and garment industry to exchange of knowledge and expertise in fashion, design, technologies.

BGMEA President Faruque Hassan apprised Ambassador Ramis Sen of BGMEA’s Sustainability Strategic Vision which aims to earn 100 billion dollar from RMG exports by 2030.

In order to attain the target, Bangladesh’s RMG sector has placed special emphasis on diversifying its product basket from basic to high-value apparels, especially manmade fibre and technical textiles based garments, he said.

Since Bangladesh’s apparel sector is investing in technology upgradation, Turkey could explore opportunities here for their textile machinery exports.

Turkish investors could also look into opportunities of establishing companies in Bangladesh to produce chemicals and other raw materials used in the textile industry. 

On the other hand, Turkey could import more garments from Bangladesh, including high-value ones, Faruque Hassan remarked, adding that “It will create a win-win situation for both Bangladesh and Turkey.”

He also sought the envoy’s support in facilitating collaboration between BGMEA University of Fashion and Technology (BUFT) and leading textile and fashion universities and institutes in Turkey.