Some news highlights relevant to RMG sector: Human Rights Watch (HRW), a US-based advocacy group suggested that global brands who will be meeting at the Dhaka Apparel Summit in February should urge government of Bangladesh to stop all persecution of union leaders related to Ashulia incident.

February 17, 2017 Some news highlights relevant to RMG sector: CuteCircuit, a company based in USA are making graphene based wearable technology. Watch: https://cutecircuit.com/

Some news highlights relevant to RMG sector: State Minister for Textile and Jute Mirza Azam mentioned the proposed Textile Industries Establishment Act 2015 will be enacted soon at an event in capital.

Some news highlights relevant to RMG sector: Mutual Trust Bank Limited (MTB) has signed agreement with Bangladesh Bank to facilitating and disbursement of Green Transformation Fund (GTF) for RMG and leather sectors.

Some news highlights relevant to RMG sector: Bangladesh with 94 default cases involving 80 companies has become one of the top five cotton trading defaulters in the world, cited Kai Hughes, CEO of International Cotton Association (ICA).

Some news highlights relevant to RMG sector: Accessories and packaging manufacturers are mostly SMEs therefore it requires government’s attention to facilitate the loans as applicable for SMEs, demanded Md Abdul Kader Khan, President of Bangladesh Garments Accessories and Packaging Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGAPMEA).

Md Manjur Morshed, Senior Advisor, GIZ writes on trade union and RMG sector, “Today, in a few countries, it is not uncommon to have more than 20 trade unions in one factory, employing around 500 workers or even less. In such cases, it is difficult to understand how the majority of the workers are effectively represented or how their demands can be efficiently negotiated with the management.”

February 11, 2017 Some news highlights relevant to RMG sector: Bangladesh Bank approves 10 additional banks to provide fund for long-term financing under ‘Green Transformation Fund for Export-oriented Textile Products and Leather Manufacturing Industries’.

February 10, 2017 Some news highlights relevant to RMG sector: • Asia Pacific Business Forum 2017 proposed to establish a single window facility at the border points where customs can be completed within one day. In addition, speakers suggested Sensitive List must be reduced to zero such as ‘Everything But Arms’ can be a reference point.

Some news highlights relevant to RMG sector: Asia-Pacific Business Forum 2017, jointly organized by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Bangladesh and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) on 8-9 February 2017.