Why is mapping important for the readymade garment (RMG) sector?
The inception of this project commenced shortly after the tragedy of the Rana Plaza collapse.There was a debate at the time regarding how many factories were there or existed in Bangladesh.A research paper titled "Beyond the Tip of the Iceberg" claimed that there were numerous RMG manufacturers in Bangladesh, but no one knew the exact number of factories.
So, that was the initial impetus for the project, to map out the factories, which meant putting not a list of factories, but the locations of those factories.
Through MiB, all industry stakeholders will be able to make better decisions with more efficiency, productivity, accountability, and transparency, thanks to its accurate, credible, and up-to-date factory information.
How did this project come about?
At first, it was a pilot project in two areas —Mirpur area of Dhaka city and Kaliakair area of Gazipur— to evaluate the best manner in which to carry out what the main project would be.
Then, we discussed with various relevant sector stakeholders and trade associations about the project to understand their expectations and needs from the project.The project was then supported by theLaudes Foundation, and it began.
So far, MiB has collated data from 3,630 export-oriented RMG factories spread all over Bangladesh using the census method, resulting in a digital map that is free, neutral, interactive, and open-access.
Could you tell us more about MiB's partners and donors?
MiB is being implemented by the Centre for Entrepreneurship Development (CED) of Brac University, funded by Laudes Foundation and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and being coordinated by Brac.
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) are the strategic partners of the project.
The project is also supported by the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) under the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
How will it benefit our RMG industry?
RMG is Bangladesh's largest export-oriented and a billion-dollar sector.
We are assuming ownership of the factories in Bangladesh and developing homegrown technologies, which is the first of its kind in the RMG industry anywhere in the globe.
As a result, it appears that this type of endeavour is being made in order to have a little more transparency and open up to the rest of the globe.
What are the most important or interesting data points on the map?
One of the most crucial data elements, in my opinion, are the brands that our factories deal with, the number of workers, and the certifications that our factories get. It shows the rest of the world what we are capable of.
In what way are the BGMEA and BKMEA contributing to this project?
The BGMEA and BKMEA are are assisting us with letters so that we can gain access to these factories and collect data for the survey.
This project is funded by the Laudes Foundation and the Kingdom of the Netherlands. What are their views on the project?
This is one of Bangladesh's most important industries, and it is a common development initiative, therefore they aim to improve the sector, especially the workers.
The project is currently at its final phase. What is your assessment of the overall project?
My personal view is that we have accomplished a massive feed because the data gathering, training, and maintenance portion is a massive undertaking in and of itself.
When I first started, I believed it would be a challenging endeavour, but as time went on, we discovered that none of the listings maintained by various companies was up to date.
Keeping the current data is a tremendous problem, and that's what we're concentrating on.
So far, the endeavour has been deemed a success.
Do you have any further plans for extending this project?
At this moment, we are in conversation with the donors about the extension of the project but no final words are feasible yet.
How will this project help the future of Bangladesh's RMG industry?
We are hoping that it helps the concept of brand Bangladesh, because this is a flagship initiative done in collaboration with the industry to illustrate what factories are available in Bangladesh.
If you are a buyer looking for factories in Bangladesh, there is a single place where you can receive all the information.
Furthermore, some factories do not keep a website or information but use this directory or map to obtain services.
So, as the world becomes more data-centric, presumably this information will gradually assist.
For example, if you go to any website to buy a product or service that has grown more data-centric; you will see a plethora of evaluations.
The grapevine has a wealth of information on which the decision-making process is based. So, hopefully, the more data we collect, the better-equipped buyers and brands will be to make informed decisions.
