Speakers at the inaugural ceremony of 15th Bangladesh Denim Expo said that Bangladesh needs to double its denim export to achieve US$ 100 billion export target by 2030 that fixed by Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) early this year.
Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi, MP, said “Bangladesh is the 2nd largest apparel exporting country in the world; but in denim we are largest exporter both in EU and USA, even before China.”
“Bangladesh Denim Expo has a huge contribution behind this success of Bangladesh’s denim export’’ the minister said this while inaugurating the 15th edition of the expo as the Chief Guest in Dhaka on Tuesday.
Siddiqur Rahman, Former President of BGMEA; Faruque Hassan, President of BGMEA; SM Mannan Kochi, Senior Vice President of BGMEA; and Mostafiz Uddin, Founder and CEO of Bangladesh Apparel Exchange (BAE) were the Special Guests on the occasion.
Siddiqur Rahman said “Denim and denim related products accounts for about one fourth of Bangladesh’s total apparel export. So, to fetch the US$ 100 billion apparel export target the country has to double its denim export by 2030.”
“It’s possible. Because we believe that the brands and retailers will choose Bangladesh as their preferred apparel sourcing destination since the country has made exemplary progresses in workplace safety and sustainability in recent years,” he added.
Faruque Hassan said “The presence of 200 green garment factories LEED certified by United States Green Building Council (USGBC) in the country is the testament to Bangladesh’s apparel industry’s commitments towards sustainability.”
“Among the world’s top 10 green factories now at least 8 are located in Bangladesh,” he added.
Ziaur Rahman, Regional Country Manager (Bangladesh, Pakistan & Africa), H&M said, “H&M has taken initiative to reduce 56% carbon dioxide by 2030. It has taken initiative to sign a power purchase agreement to make the market competitive for the company".
He emphasized taking a more regularized scheme for the recycling process to be done.
Mostafiz Uddin said “Bangladesh denim industry has huge potentials. His organization Bangladesh Apparel Exchange (BAE) has been working to unlock the untapped potentials of the denim industry.”
A total of 80 exhibitors from 12 countries are participating in the 15th Bangladesh Denim Expo. About 5000 visitors from home and abroad have registered to attend the 2-day expo starting from this Wednesday.
Four panel discussions are also being organized in this edition of the expo.