The RMG industry of Bangladesh needs to get prepared to embrace the opportunities and face the challenges posed by Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). 

“Only 8 percent of jobs in the RMG sector is automated. We hope by 2025 will be reaching 25 percent. But how do we transform production chain? If we can increase level of literacy and bring in coding and mathematics as a compulsory subject at primary level education, then we could have changed the scenario. As we don’t have that now, we can’t hope for overnight transformation,” said Dr. Rubana Huq, President, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA). 

She made the remark at a webinar on Post COVID-19: Challenges and Opportunities for Entrepreneurship and Employment in the context of current status of Skill Development and preparation for Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR).

France-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIFB), in collaboration with Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) and supported by Business France, organized the webinar. 

The online meet aimed to discuss how best to coordinate and initiate actions to address the challenges and harness the 4IR opportunities in Bangladesh to spur entrepreneurship and job creation.

Honorable Planning Minister M. A. Mannan attended the webinar as chief guest, which was chaired by BIDA Chairman Md. Serajul Islam.

Professor Dr. Mehdi Anwar of BUET presented the keynote speech at the webinar, moderated by CCIFB President Mahmudul Huq.

In her address Dr. Rubana Huq also underscored the need for investing in AI. “Are we investing enough in AI? More than 150 billion dollars are being put for investment in robotics engineering. Where are we stand right now?”

“From BGMEA we tried with a2i and told them that one of the most basic things to do is to go through factory floors and check out what the industry needs – what software and hardware are needed. We can have a lot of homegrown solutions at this point of time. We have enough intelligent engineers in Bangladesh and a sync between academia and industry is absolutely needed,” she said

While 75 million are supposed to loss job, 133 million people are supposed to be gaining. So,there are always opportunities where challenges are, Dr. Huq added.

Click here to watch the full address by BGMEA President Dr. Rubana Huq