Ensuring better infrastructure, mainly availability of power and gas, has been voted to be the top most priority of Bangladesh to reach an apparel export target of US$50 billion by the year 2021, when the country aspires to become a middle-income one.
The requirement for skilled workers and managers is the second top priority to achieve the goal as Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) conducted a survey among the industry stakeholders and experts as part of the Dhaka Apparel Summit 2014 concluded in Dhaka yesterday.
The survey was based on eight specified questions with multiple-option answers picked from different discussion sessions of the summit while the respondents were given options to choose the priorities.
The BGMEA conducted such survey perhaps for the first time to design a road map to make the RMG sector sustainable amid challenges the industry is now facing particularly in the backdrop of working conditions and factory standards.
The priorities were set through SMS poll and experts who participated in the summit to share their views and opinions to help the sector come up with a concrete road map to reach the target and sustainability.
During each session, a question was set with multiple answers and shown on the screen urging the participants to vote through SMS.
Each session was designed with separate topics, where buyers, manufacturers, students and academics were present. These sessions were aimed at devising ways to reach the target, and panelists expressed their opinions with suggestions.
The option of better infrastructure, power and gas bagged 53% support from participants to emerge as the highest priority. It also emerged as the top priority in case of the options for ensuring efficient business supply chain.
“Workers and Manager’s Awareness” on safety was the third priority to ensure safe working condition, supported by 48.67% of audience.
Access to low cost finance was viewed as a big challenge for remediation and relocation of factories to ensure safety. 40.85% of audience voted on the challenge and urged buyers to sharing remediation cost.
“Political stability” emerged as a big concern, which is supported by 30.61% of participants, followed by “Knowledge and education” as it helps boost productivity.
“Ethical Pricing” was another challenge as most helpful to ensure responsible supply chain. And, 21.52% emphasised on relationship between buyers and suppliers.
Meanwhile, “constructive criticism” was seen as the best way to develop a strategic partnership between industry and media. While making information available about the industry is next important way to develop such partnership.
All the participants echoed voice on “good governance” to make Bangladesh a middle-income country by 2021.
“The summit is a great success for the country’s RMG sector as has been able to point out the challenges as well as recommendations from the global and local experts to reach the target and make the apparel industry sustainable,” BGMEA Vice President Shahidullah Azim told the Dhaka Tribune.
The outcome would help the government adopt proper policies as well as the factory owners to make decision on how to face with the challenges in expanding business, he added.
BGMEA in partnership with Bangladesh Brand Forum organised the first ever Dhaka Apparel Summit 2014” to devise a roadmap for the industry.
It was also aimed at drawing an outline for the sustainability of the RMG sector and branding Bangladesh to rebuild the image tarnished to due to factory disaster last year.
Brands, fashion designers, sourcing executives and experts from home and abroad, international organisations, employers, private sectors, workers’ representatives, civil society organisations, buyers and academics joined the summit to share their experiences, and gather knowledge about Bangladesh’s apparel industry.