Garment Orders From Foreign Buyers Would Decline by 30 Percent

Garment orders from foreign buyers would decline by 30 percent owing to the turbulence prevailing in the country that is affecting the Bangladeshi garment industry, said Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters’ Association (BGMEA) president Atiqul Islam, after a meeting with Labor and Employment Minister Khandker Mosharraf Hossain and foreign buyers in Dhaka.

Mr. Islam said foreign buyers have expressed concern over the present situation affecting the garment industry in Bangladesh, which is forcing them to shift their readymade garment orders to other countries, reports Bangladeshi news agency BSS.

Around 30 percent of apparel orders would decline owing to the political turmoil which is severely affecting the garment industry of the country, he added.

The BGMEA official urged the political leaders and parties to take measures and resolve the issues in order to save the apparel sector, as around 70 million people are directly and indirectly related with the apparel sector of the country.

Mr. Islam said the buyers clearly informed during the meeting that they have started shifting their orders to other countries including India, Vietnam, Cambodia and China because of the ‘unhealthy’ political situation in Bangladesh.

The garment sector contributes about 80 percent of Bangladesh’s foreign exchange earnings, and it is a vital sector for the economy of the South Asian nation. The Bangladesh clothing sector exports goods worth US$ 22 billion annually, and employs about four million people.