Chief Executive Officer of H&M Karl-Johan Person yesterday expressed satisfaction over the progress Bangladesh made in the readymade garment sector.
John Person came up with the observation while briefing the reporters after a meeting with Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed at his secretariat office in the capital.
“As Bangladesh has made lots of development, we are also growing here and would also like to expand further,” said Person.
H&M, which is a Sweden-based growing company, is doing very well with lots of expansion opportunity in the days ahead, he claimed.
“We buy products from different countries based on prices, quality, capacity, lead time and sustainability and if Bangladesh continues to develop further, it would be even more attractive to the global buyers,” he added.
Person urged the government to ensure sustainability, environmental issues, structural integrity and capacity and customers relations to capture the growing global demands for the RMG products and to remain with H&M.
“The visit of H&M chief executive officer certifies that Bangladesh is moving ahead after the Rana Plaza collapse, ensuring safety to RMG workers,” said Tofail Ahmed.
In response to a query, Tofail Ahmed said: “We are trying to enhance capacity building in RMG sector and the government has already allowed the sector to import duty-free fire equipment, fabricated building materials and provided lands to establish an industrial park only for RMG sector.”
Ahmed also said the retailer’s platforms have completed factory inspection and found less than 2% factory risky, which is even better than that of the developed nations.
The present scenario of the sector is calm and better for doing business as the government allowed trade unions in RMG factories even located at the Export Processing Zones' (EPZs), he added.
During his two days visit, Person held meetings with the leaders of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), trade union leaders and other stakeholders.
Karl-Johan Person, chief executive of Swedish retailer came to Bangladesh yesterday on a two-day visit to discuss about his sourcing plans and to gather first hand experiences about the progress Bangladesh made in RMG sector so far after the deadliest collapse of Rana Plaza Building.
According to BGMEA, H&M currently sources apparel products from over 250 factories in Bangladesh. H&M is the single largest RMG sourcing company, which imports product worth over US$1m from Bangladesh per year.
