The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) have signed an agreement with the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) and will collaborate to develop skills training services for garment workers across the ready-made garment (RMG) sector. Leaders of the two organisations met at EPB’s office in Dhaka, where they penned the deal and vowed to improve productivity and factory efficiencies. It comes after the BGMEA recently stated that the country’s apparel exports could reach $100 bn per year by 2030, which would more than double its takings for the year 2021.
BGMEA President Faruque Hassan has thanked the EPB for its support as it looks to level up Bangladesh’s workforce and capacities. According to report, Hassan said: “The demand for skilled workers is growing in the RMG sector, particularly at the mid-level management section, and the issue should be addressed with due attention and action. “One of the best options to enhance productivity is to make the workers skilled by imparting them necessary training,” he added.
The training, which will be rolled out over the coming years, will complement the BGMEA’s ambitions of more than doubling Bangladesh’s garment exports. The organisation’s leaders outlined their aspirations of reaching $100 bn in annual garment exports at an event held earlier this week.
The country is said to have exported apparel with a value of more than $42 bn last year. As such, it would need to export an additional $7.2 bn per year until 2030 for it to reach the goal. Speaking with, Hassan insisted: “It’s possible to achieve the target as we are diversifying the products and markets.”