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| :: BGMEA pushes for RMG ministry ~ |
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Bangladesh Garment Manu-facturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) leaders yesterday urged the government to establish a separate ministry for readymade garments (RMG) industry.
They also recommended that the government take efficient preparation to participate in the upcoming World Trade Organisation ministerial meeting in Hong Kong to get due attention from US representatives.
BGMEA President Annisul Huq at a press conference in Dhaka also apprised reporters of the success of their latest visit to US.
Commerce ministry adviser Barkat Ullah Bulu was leading a BGMEA delegation to the US to drum up support for the passage of TRADE (Tariff Relief Assistance for Developing Economies) Bill, seeking duty-free access of LDC products to the US market.
Huq said, the BGMEA was so far able to influence 20 senators and house of representatives to sponsor and support the TRADE Bill 2005.
The US administration has assured BGMEA of not putting any embargo on passing the bill, which is a success of BGMEA towards attaining duty free market access to US, he added.
Annisul Huq said a separate ministry is badly needed as the major export-earning sector is facing manifold problems after quota phaseout.
More concerted efforts are necessary to attain trade facility through bilateral discussion with different countries, he added.
He said Prime Minister Khaleda Zia had promised before 2001 election to establish a separate ministry for readymade garments but the pledge is yet to be met.
The upcoming WTO ministerial meeting is very significant for Bangladesh as around 500 US representatives including 80 senators are likely to participate in the meeting, Huq said.
"Bangladesh should do everything to get US sympathy towards the passage of TRADE Act", he added in his written speech.
Huq told of his success during his 20-month tenure, which ended yesterday, as the president of the trade body saying the BGMEA is doing well to achieve duty free access to the US market.
He said garment manufacturers have some more challenges ahead which include market access, labour right issue, building internal infrastructure, bringing changes in the customs regulation, compliance issues and building a backward linkage industry.
China and US have settled their disputes over clothing export, which will certainly have an impact on Bangladesh export in future, he cautioned.
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