Senior representatives from the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers & Exporters Association (BKMEA) took part in the STAR Network’s Annual Board Meeting held in Humen Town, China, on 17th November 2025. At the global forum, they represented Bangladesh and highlighted the strength, progress and long-term vision of the country’s ready-made garment industry.
Miran Ali, Spokesperson of the Sustainable Terms of Trade Initiative (STTI) and former Vice-President of BGMEA, along with Shah Rayeed Chowdhury, Director of BGMEA and Board Member of the STAR Network, delivered a presentation outlining the industry’s key challenges, emerging opportunities and strategic priorities necessary for sustaining growth and competitiveness.
Fazlee Shamim Ehsan, Executive President of BKMEA and Chairman of the STAR Network Board, emphasised the continued evolution of Bangladesh’s apparel and knitwear sector. He noted the industry’s efforts to align with shifting global market requirements and reinforce its position in the international landscape.
The annual meeting convened member associations of the STAR Network for discussions on the Secretariat’s progress, joint initiatives, external collaborations and strategic plans for the future. Representatives from each member association, along with expert speakers from Worldly, Cascale and the International Apparel Federation (IAF), shared insights into global market conditions, technological developments and the evolving challenges and opportunities across their regions.
The STAR Network (Sustainable Textiles of the Asian Region) is an alliance of garment producer associations in Asia dedicated to advancing sustainability, innovation and responsible growth in the textile and apparel industry. Its members include leading associations from Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Myanmar, Pakistan and Vietnam. BGMEA and BKMEA continue to play active roles in promoting sustainability, climate action and collective solutions to industry-wide issues.
Representatives from the China National Textile and Apparel Council (CNTAC), TAFTAC (Cambodia), VITAS (Vietnam), MGMA (Myanmar), PTEA (Pakistan), PHMEA (Pakistan) and TMA (Pakistan) also participated in the board meeting.
