Chief Advisor’s Special Envoy Lutfey Siddiqi welcomed representatives of global brands and buyers of readymade garments for a dialogue at his office on Thursday, 5th December.
Underscoring the importance of this industry, Mr. Siddiqi expressed gratitude for the constructive engagement and contribution of the buying community through a period of challenges and changes.
He expressed cautious optimism in metrics such as export volumes, remittances and cargo handling that have defied expectations to show double-digit percentage growth versus the previous year.
Other factors such as law & order, labour relations and liquidity appear to be improving but continue to require close monitoring. Beyond that, structural constraints such as our port infrastructure, energy infrastructure or gaps in skills will take longer to resolve but for which, reforms in our decision-making processes should enable us to move faster than before.
The buyers’ representatives pointed out that this is the first time that they have had an opportunity to engage directly in this manner with government at a ministerial level.
They brought up weak brand protection, restrictive credit facilities for imports, and lack of a dedicated green energy plan for this sector as additional issues for the government to focus on.
They expressed full support for the government’s agenda around labour standards and rejected the suggestion that their pricing policies could stand in the way of better wages.
It was also mentioned that global brands with their own observations on the ground are well-placed to help narrate and project the true story of Bangladesh, as it is evolving right now, to the international audience. The Special Envoy thanked them for their support, especially on the backdrop of disinformation in certain arenas.
The following country representatives took part in the dialogue:
1. Mr. Ziaur Rahman, H&M Bangladesh
2. Mr. Vikramjeet Singh, Gap Inc.
3. Mr. Rezwan Murshed, Carrefour
4. Mr. Jan Rossel, Sports Group Denmark
5. Mr. Rajib K Islam Chowdhury, Allure Sourcing Ltd.
6. Mr. Jessica Nursoo, VF Corporation
7. Mr. Moyeen Chowdhury, Puma SE (World Cat Ltd).
8. Mr. Mehtap mir, Otto International
9. Mr. brunhilde descamps, Auchan
10. Mr. Md Abdulla Al Rumi, Stanley Stella
11. Mr. Javier Santonja, INDITEX
12. Mr. Jose Manuel Martin, El Corte Inglés S.A.
13. Mr. Jesus Bernal, Tape ‘a L’oeil
14. Mr. Wieke Gerhold, Eurocentra
15. Mr. Lucie Abt, Celio Sourcing and,
16. Mr. Samit Roy Nandy, Decathlon
