News in the Media

Executive director of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Mustafizur Rahman sees the US pullout from the TPP as a sort of relief for Bangladesh since Vietnam could have enjoyed tariff preferences on the US market under such arrangement.

বেসরকারি গবেষণা সংস্থা সেন্টার ফর পলিসি ডায়ালগের (সিপিডি) অতিরিক্ত গবেষণা পরিচালক খন্দকার গোলাম মোয়াজ্জেম কালের কণ্ঠকে বলেন, ট্রাম্পের বাণিজ্যনীতিতে যুক্তরাষ্ট্রের নতুন প্রশাসনের সংরক্ষণমুলক নীতি ফুটে উঠছে। ট্রাম্প বহুমুখী আঞ্চলিক বাণিজ্য চুক্তি বাতিল করে দ্বিপক্ষীয় চুক্তিতে যাওয়ার কথা বলছেন। অর্থাৎ ট্রাম্প প্রশাসন যুক্তরাষ্ট্রের অভ্যন্তরীণ বিনিয়োগ, কর্মসংস্থান ও বাণিজ্যকে অগ্রাধিকার দেওয়ার নীতি গ্রহণ করছে।

Some news highlights relevant to RMG sector: Indian Muslim Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IMCCI) showed interest to providing support to issue Halal certification for Bangladeshi RMG exports to India at Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) event.

Some news highlights relevant to RMG sector: An export-oriented RMG company, Liberty Fashion’s Chairman and Managing Director, Mozammel Huq demanded at a press conference resumption of the factory operations following an “arbitrary report on workplace safety” by Medway Consultancy Services (MCS).

Some news highlights relevant to RMG sector: Bangladesh Bank’s quarterly review on RMG sector stated that Bangladesh has reached ‘optimal level’ of local value addition in RMG industry.

Some news highlights relevant to RMG sector: Next, the largest clothing retailer by sales in UK, slashed it purchase from Bangladesh to only $ 180 million of RMG items though it had initially planned to buy $ 260 million worth in 2016.

Some news highlights relevant to RMG sector: Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) currently does not keep data on RMG accessories export noted Mr Abdul Kader Khan, President of Bangladesh Garments Accessories and Packaging Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGAPMEA) at the inauguration of Garmentech, a sourcing trade show.

Some news highlights relevant to RMG sector: A 77 per cent increase in basic wage of RMG workers and commitment of GoB to work with 2030 Water Resources Group (WRG) for achieving better efficiency and compliance in apparels sector in Bangladesh, emphasized Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Additional Director (Research) of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Dr Khondaker Golam Moazzem said entrepreneurs should think about importing gas and foreign investment for large composite factories for woven garments.

Some news highlights relevant to RMG sector: Twenty RMG retailers write to GoB to form new wage board, adopt regular review procedure and address the cause of the Ashulia unrest through social dialogue. Among the signatories were H&M, C&A, Esprit, GAP, Next, VF Corporation, Primark, Inditex and Li & Fung.