Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) is going to host a three-day Apparel Summit at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the capital from December 7 to 9 this year to present a “complete picture” of the country’s garment industry.
The summit will replace the annual event BATEXPO, which was being organised every year to attract the foreign RMG buyers from different countries.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to inaugurate the summit, according to a high official in the BGMEA.
The BGMEA had earlier held a meeting for making a decision on organising the Apparel Summit, the first of its kind in Bangladesh.
Brands, fashion designers, sourcing executives and experts from home and abroad are expected to join the summit to share their experiences and gather knowledge about Bangladesh’s apparel industry, BGMEA vice president Shahidullah Azim told the Dhaka Tribune.
“There will be safety expo, where participants would show safety equipment and demonstrate several drills on it to raise awareness among the RMG factory owners,” he said.
The participants would get good impressions about new fashion trends, innovative technologies and important industry intelligence through attending various seminars and conferences, Azim said.
Bangladeshi entrepreneurs will also benefit from the summit enriching their knowledge about latest apparel technologies and fashion. The summit will also help domestic apparel makers build a bridge with the global buyers as well as experts.
There will have interactive panel discussions with the expert apparel brands and retail sourcing executives and industry experts on new sourcing paradigms.
Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh and Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety, two platform of global buyers working on safety and compliance issues, will take part in the summit.
Besides, International Labour Organisation (ILO), Germany’s international development cooperation GIZ will also attend the summit. Award of Excellence will be given to the factory owners who are environment-friendly and compliant.