The President of the apex garment makers’ body (Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association), Faruque Hassan, who along with other BGMEA leaders paid a month-long visit to the United States and Canada to enhance the image and brand of the country’s apparel manufacturing sector as a part of ‘Apparel Diplomacy’, has recently addressed the media even as he called upon the garment makers in Bangladesh to focus on price calculations and be more careful with price negotiations with the overseas buyers.

Media reports maintained this while adding that the BGMEA chair has underlined that while Bangladesh was taking numerous steps and investing to make readymade garment sector as well as the supply chain sustainable, price of apparel items in the USA fell by 8.04 per cent in one year.

“…Selling products at a price lower than the cost of production will not benefit anyone in the long run…,” reportedly, maintained Faruque even as he underlined that it will only aggravate the scenario even as he requested all to diversify their product offerings.

According to reports, during the month-long visit the BGMEA participated in various events including meetings with various Government and non-Government bodies, buyers — they conducted at least 30 meetings with various stakeholders including the American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA), US-Bangladesh Business Council of US Chamber of Commerce, International Cotton Advisory Committee, brands like VF Corporation, Ralph-Lauren, Amerex Group, Dreamwave, Canadian Tire Corporation, IFC and Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP).