The Apparel Summit aims to erase negative images of the country’s RMG sector through showcasing progresses and initiatives taken to standardise safety and providing a sustainable road map, BGMEA President Atiqul Islam has said.
In an exclusive interview with the Dhaka Tribune on the eve of the summit, Atiqul said what Bangladesh needs right now is to build a brand image, which is the main objective of the summit.
The BGMEA president came up with a series of question answers related to RMG sector and the Apparel Summit.
Why did BATEXPO yield to Apparel Summit?
Bangladesh Apparel and Textile Exposition (BATEXPO) aims at making Bangladesh familiar with global buyers as an RMG exporting country. Now across the globe, people know Bangladesh as the best and quality RMG-producing country. Currently, Bangladesh needs to build a brand image.
How will Apparel Summit build image among global buyers?
Through Dhaka Apparel Summit 2014, Bangladesh will present its progress on fire, electrical and structural safety made in the last one year after the Rana Plaza incident. It also will focus on the initiatives taken to ensure a sustainable development for RMG sector and a road map to earn a $50-billion export target by 2021.
What is the expected outcome of the summit?
Our mission is to provide a road map for achieving the $50 billion export target, plus address all loopholes and obstacles to sustainable development in RMG sector. Recommendations at the summit would be filtered and turned into a policy to make the dream come true. The policy would be published as a book.
What are the challenges of achieving $50 billion export target by 2021?
Infrastructure including port facility, power, gas, road communication and political instability are the main challenges to materialise the export target. If we can overcome these bars, RMG sector would be able to meet the goal within the time frame.
The target is achievable as we have 35 years of experience and the apparel summit is set to make the impossible a possible one and to feature the challenges and way forward.
The government should declare RMG to be a priority sector as it gives the government good returns. The apparel industry is a tested sector for which the government should launch an effective one-stop service. To get approval of establishing factory and other projects, it requires to move from one ministry to another that consumes time. If the sector is given priority it would employ more workers to apparel industry in future and earn more currency, plus create more backward linkage for employment generation.
Since productivity is a must to reach target, how can apparel sector increase productivity?
To meet the export goal by 2012, Our big Challenge is to boost productivity which would get the highest priority. We are going to launch Center of Excellence for Bangladesh Apparel Industry workers to facilitate their training to increase productivity.
How will the summit help improve safety and full-fledged compliance?
Generally, the BGMEA used to organise BATEXPO to display products to attract buyers, but in the Summit there would be a Safety Expo focusing on sharing knowledge on the latest safety innovation and products and to clear conception about safety issues.
How can RMG sector help Bangladesh attain a middle-income status?
If we can earn $50 billion by 2021, it would contribute to a middle-income status for Bangladesh along with expanding employment and earnings. It would also help Bangladesh expand the business of banks, insurance and other backward linkage that would contribute to the country’s GDP.
Can apparel sector ensure environmental sustainability?
Environmental sustainability is a must, not an option. The factory, which considers environmental sustainability, has enough work orders. That is why we have taken several steps to ensure sustainability through less use of power, water, gas and energy.
How can RMG workers and buyers help meet the target?
My message to the apparel workers is we want to work together as we are on the same board. Workers should not hold hostile attitude towards RMG owners and there should prevail a congenial atmosphere in the workplace. The buyers should promise a longterm effective partnership as the RMG sector has improved safety in line with their recommendations. Now they are comparing price with that of other countries and opting to give less price. They should not play double standard.
Will RMG factory be relocated soon to ensure safety standard?
Another big challenge for the apparel industry is relocation of factories, some of which are remaining closed and some requiring relocation for full-fledged compliance as it hampers productions. For relocation, RMG industry needs a single-digit interest loan, plus land. In the proposed Bausia Garment Palli, priority will be given to those factories.
What were the problems faced by RMG in the past and how to overcome those?
In the past, RMG sector eliminated child labour and overcame Multi-Fibre Agreement while in recent times safety issues are being dealt with.
We are working on the issues and would be able to prove that Bangladesh is a safer workplace. We are rebuilding RMG sector factory-wise. Bangladesh has launched Fire Factory Clearing (FFC) house through which buyers can see the safety standard clearly.