The US ambassador in Dhaka has advised Bangladesh to further improve the working environment and safety of its workers in the apparel sector to attain higher export growth and regain GSP privilege.
Marcia Stephens Bloom Bernicat made the suggestions at a discussion on Bangladesh’s target to raise readymade garment exports to $50 billion in the next five years, in Dhaka on Saturday.
Apparel exports earned $25 billion in 2014-15 financial year.
The US envoy said, “Importers will not like to buy garments from Bangladesh unless the country improved working environment in the sector.
She said Bangladesh would have to ensure safety of the workers to get back trade privilege under Generalised System of Preference (GSP) that the US suspended in 2013.
The US suspension came after two devastating accidents in RMG sector – fire at Tazreen Fashions and collapse of Rana Plaza building that housed several RMG units – which claimed over 1,000 lives.
The US government later set 18 conditions, including improvement in working condition and safety of workers, for Bangladesh to get back the privilege.
Bangladesh government claims it has already fulfilled almost all the conditions but the US says Dhaka has made progress but could not yet reach the target.
Speaking at the discussion, Centre for Policy Dialogue Additional Director (Research) Khandaker Golam Moazzem said the target to raise garment exports to $50 billion by 2021 was challenging.
He advised the stakeholders in the sector to inform the government of the requirement for natural gas, oil, electricity and manpower to attain the target.
“Then the government can plan and work on that,” he said.
Source: Bd news24
