Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has requested buyers to raise the prices of readymade garments (RMG) so that RMG workers could lead a more comfortable life.
The Prime Minister said this while inaugurating the first-ever ‘Dhaka Apparel Summit’ at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) in Dhaka earlier this week.
She also opened the International Trade Expo for Building and Fire Safety 2014. Both the Dhaka Apparel Summit-2014 and the International Trade Expo for Building and Fire Safety 2014 were organised by the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).
Hasina assured RMG exporters that the Government would remain beside them, and urged them to explore new markets to further boost exports.
She said the European Union has relaxed the rules of origin of the GSP, due to her Government’s efforts. She added that Bangladesh is getting duty-free access of 46 products to India and duty-free access of 98 per cent goods to China. She urged garment exporters to fully utilise these opportunities.
She said diversification in design is necessary, along with expanding markets, in order to sustain in the competitive global market.
She further said, “We will have to boost share of our garment products and we have that capability. To materialise it, we will have to execute short, middle and long-term plans.”
Stating that there is no alternative to research and development, she stressed on the need for conducting more research to further strengthen the RMG sector. Hasina said her Government is taking steps for development of the RMG sector and wants to ensure security and safety of the workers at garment factories.
“That is why the Government with the support of the BGMEA as well as local and international organisations ensured setting up of safe, sustainable and compliant factories in a coordinated manner,” she said.
She mentioned that the minimum wage for garment factory workers has increased by 220 per cent in last five years. She added that a Taka 50 crore fund has been set aside to enhance efficiency of the workers. (RKS)
