B’desh wants to export more garments

Dhaka, November 16:

Bangladesh will lobby with the US Congress for the passage of an apparel-related bill with the hope of increasing its export of readymade garments.

Chief advisor Fakhruddin Ahmed assured the government’s full support to the move. The embassy in Washington is lobbying — along with the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Expor-ters Association (BGMEA) — for smooth passage of ‘The New Partnership for Development Act of 2007’, now before US Congress.

“During my recent visit to the US, I emphasised to the authorities concerned the necessity of giving duty- and quota-free entry of Bangladesh garments to the US market. Bangladesh embassy in that country in association with BGMEA representatives continues lobbying hard for passage of the bill,” Ahmed said.

The US is the single-largest market of readyma-de garments for Bangla-desh. If the bill is passed, apparel export to the US would increase in a big way, he said at the opening of BATEXPO 2007.