Bangladesh’s main apparel trade body has rolled out a fresh drive with the country’s Chinese business community to pull in investment from China and encourage joint ventures designed to shore up the backward-linkage and upstream segments of the readymade garment industry.
Beyond fresh funding, the scheme is also designed to channel modern technology into factories currently running as well as those that have shut down, according to a statement released by the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).
The move followed talks held at BGMEA’s headquarters in Dhaka, bringing together association leadership and a senior delegation from the Overseas Chinese Association in Bangladesh (OCAIB).
Speaking during the discussions, the visiting Chinese representatives stressed that overseas capital is a critical ingredient in bringing Bangladesh’s upstream textile and garment supply network up to date and building its resilience.
They pointed out that a considerable number of Chinese firms hold ambitions to set up manufacturing plants, share technical know-how and grow their footprint in Bangladesh, but are frequently held back from committing due to a shortage of dependable, accurate data on the ground.
The delegation asked BGMEA to play an active role in supplying relevant details and helping arrange introductions to suitable local business partners.
In his response, BGMEA president Mahmud Hasan Khan confirmed that the association would gather the necessary details directly from its member manufacturers.
He explained that mill owners keen to secure Chinese funding and technological upgrades, whether for factories currently in operation or those that have ceased production — or those looking to bring in joint-venture partners through either a full or partial sale of ownership, would be asked to forward comprehensive details to the association.
