The 17th edition of the Bangladesh Denim Expo, an internationally acclaimed trade show, concluded at the International Convention City, Bashundhara in Dhaka on Tuesday.
The two-day, Bangladesh Denim Expo was organised by Bangladesh Apparel Exchange, where over 45 exhibitors from seven countries showcased their latest denim products, fabrics, accessories, chemicals, and technologies.
Over 5,543 visitors from 56 countries joined the expo, that began on Monday, November 4, says a press release.
On the second day of the event, Panel Discussions 2: Shaping RMG Sector in Future: GSP+ and LDC Transition, session addressed the critical issues surrounding Bangladesh's transition from LDC status by 2029 and the need to secure GSP+ eligibility to maintain market access.
Distinguished speakers of this panel M Riaz Hamidullah (Moderator), additional foreign secretary (Multilateral and Regional), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said: "Many people believe that Bangladesh would be able to meet all of the expectations. But there are a lot of challenges. I think at the end, liberty, inclusion, and transparency will be the key. Labour rights are also a value proposition."
Professor Mustafizur Rahman, distinguished fellow, Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), said: "I'm very hopeful that the success story of the Bangladesh RMG industry will continue. Bangladesh is very poised for LDC graduation. I think we will have to restructure the incentives in terms of the challenges that are coming.
Dr Mostafa Abid Khan, component manager, Support for Sustainable Graduation Project (SSGP), Economic Relations Division, Ministry of Finance, said, "We are excessively reliant on the garment sector. And it is effectively flourishing in Bangladesh."
"For the EU, Bangladesh is a success story. The EU is very interested in providing continued access to GSP+ to BD. BD has to adhere to compliance with the due diligence set by the EU."
Edwin Koekkoek, first counsellor and team leader, Green Inclusive Development, Delegation of the European Union to Bangladesh, said, "In the area of sustainability, due diligence is a key element. In Bangladesh, we can see progress on labour rights and environmental standards. The decarbonization of Bangladesh will be a priority."
Mohammad Sohel Sadat, chairman, Shin Shin Group, said, "The sustainability of manufacturing is continuously evolving. We have bigger scope in labour condition improvement and bring it to the next level. I think, among all stakeholders, the labour condition is important. We have to build up our image and educate the workforce. We need to educate entrepreneurs and also the workers on what needs to be done.
