The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President, SM Mannan (Kochi), met with a group from the United States International Trade Commission (USITC).
Along with Joseph Giblin, the head of the US Embassy’s economic unit in Dhaka, the mission from the USITC consisted of international economist Erika Bethmann and trade analyst Mary Roop.
A press release stated that the goal of the USITC visit is to conduct a fact-finding mission to collect quantitative and qualitative data supporting the competitiveness of the apparel industries in Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, and Pakistan—all of which are currently top suppliers to the US market.
BGMEA Vice Presidents Miran Ali and Abdullah HilRakib, along with Directors Shovon Islam, AshikurRahman (Tuhin), Shams Mahmud, and M. Ahsanul Haque and Chair of BGMEA Standing Committee on Labor and ILO Affairs ANM Saifuddin also participated in the discussions with the USITC delegation.
The BGMEA leaders emphasised during the meeting the industry’s achievements and commitments, especially in the areas of worker welfare and environmental sustainability.
They emphasised Bangladesh’s outstanding accomplishments, like holding the title of one of the safest apparel exporting nations and having the greatest number of LEED-certified green garment factories worldwide.
Previously, both verbally and in writing, representatives from the commerce ministry and BGMEA offered insights into the competitiveness of the industry at the USITC hearing in March.
Bangladesh’s position and competitiveness in the global garment market were reaffirmed throughout the summit.
