Anumber of industry associations represent the interests of Bangladesh's textile and apparel industry, including BTMA, BKMEA and BGMEA.
Reflecting industry views to the authorities
The Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) is a national trade organization representing yarn, fabric manufacturers and textile product processing mills in the country's business sector.
The private textile community in Bangladesh jointly established the BTMA in 1983 with an initial membership of 22 mills, so as to promote and protect the trade, commerce and manufacturers of Bangladesh in general and of the textile related trade in particular.
Abdul Hai Sarker, President of the BTMA explained that the association has over 800 members including 458 weaving mills, 222 spinning mills, and 141 mills of dyeing, printing and finishing.
Over US$3.3 billion (2.5 billion euros) has been invested in these mills and about 3.5 million people are employed.
Apparel making is an important foreign exchanger earner in Bangladesh |
The BTMA is run by an executive committee of 27 members, headed by a president and three vice-chairmen, who are elected for a two-year tenure. "We aspire to making the BTMA an institution of excellence, so that its reputation as a think tank and policy advocate spreads far and wide and that international bodies recognize its contribution to our national development," Mr Sarker told ATA Journal.
While talking about the problems confronting the industry, he raised out concerns of the textile industry over the gas shortage. Production of some regions reduced by about a half in regions where gas supply was severely interrupted.
In addition, the association offered industry views to the government in regard to the industry development. After gathering views from the business sector, the Bangladeshi authorities have recently announced the second stimulus package (details on Industry News, page 11) worth Tk10 billion to assist export-oriented enterprises, including textile and readymade garment makers.
Liasing for trade promotion
Knitwear is a major apparel export category in Bangladesh. Exports of knitwear earning reached US$6429.26 million in financial year 2008-09 (i.e. July 2008-June 2009), according to the Export Promotion Bureau of Bangladesh.
The Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) was established to represent the interests of this segment in 1996. It has now 1,500 corporate members.
Md. Fazlul Hoque taking over the charge as the President of BKMEA for the third time (2008-10) explained that the association is run by a 27-member board of directors. The board is elected for a period of two years and there are 21 different sub-committees to facilitate the operation of the association.
Mr Hoque commented that the BKMEA has established liaisons with domestic and overseas associations to encourage industry growths. For instance, it works with international agencies and maintains close relationships with diplomatic offices in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. It also works with industry organizations in Europe and the US, e.g. the Global Alliance for Fair Textile Trade (GAFTT) and the American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition (AMTAC).
Aspires to building healthy business environment
For apparel makers in general, the representing organization is the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), which has members in the export-oriented woven knit and sweater making manufacturing sectors.
Abdus Salam Murshedy, President of the BGMEA, explained that the BGMEA has two main missions. The primary objective of the BGMEA is to establish a healthy business environment for mutually beneficial relationships among the manufacturers, exporters and importers. Second, it aims to implement all legitimate rights and privileges of garment workers regarding health, welfare and safety. The organization also stands to ensure child-labor-free factories, women empowerment, gender equality and other social standards, and seeks to keep the environment clean and unaffected, he added.
Bangladesh has its advantages and can take opportunity amid the current economic climate, however, some measures are needed, such as a technical upgradation fund, an export-performance-benefit scheme and export incentives on retention, Mr Murshedy concluded.
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