BKMEA seeks high-level committee for garment industry policymaking

The Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) has proposed forming a high-level committee with representatives from relevant government ministries and business organisations to coordinate policymaking and implementation in the garment sector.

BKMEA President Mohammad Hatem made the proposals in a document submitted ahead of a meeting with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Monday (September 14).

The committee would include representatives from the Finance, Commerce and Labour ministries, National Board of Revenue (NBR), FBCCI, BGMEA, BKMEA, BTMA and BEZA. It would coordinate policies, take key decisions and ensure their implementation in the garment and industrial sectors.

BKMEA also called for a long-term master plan to ensure uninterrupted gas and electricity supplies to industries. It suggested considering future investments, industrial expansion and energy demand, including coal-fired and nuclear power projects.

The organisation also proposed a carbon credit system suited to Bangladesh’s economic and industrial realities to help reduce carbon emissions.

It recommended consulting stakeholders before introducing or changing policies and allowing a reasonable transition period when new rules come into effect.

BKMEA further urged the NBR to improve the digitalisation of tax, customs, VAT and import-export services to reduce time, costs and business-related problems.