Dependency on foreigners drops
Staff Reporter :
A glimmer of hope appears on the horizon of the country’s apparel sector with the grooming garment experts in local universities and firms, dwindling the dependency of the sector on the Indian, Sri Lankan and Pakistani experts.
The dependency on foreign experts who used to work in the country’s readymade garment industry a decade ago has come down as their number has declined significantly, according to BGMEA.
As per the data of the apex body of the apparel sector only 346 authorised foreigners are working in their members’ factories while 272 are working in local factories and 74 in foreigners’ factories.
However, the Asian Center for Development (ACD) in a 2020 survey estimated that there were around 2,200 foreign professionals working in the RMG sector of Bangladesh at different positions.
Nearly 15 per cent of the factories have foreign staff. More specifically, 24 per cent are in woven factories, 13 per cent in knit factories, 3.7 per cent in sweater factories and 9.1 per cent in other factories, according to the study.
The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) is now encouraging the young generation to become experts in line with propelling the industry’s growth and the number of foreign experts has declined significantly in recent times, it added.
“The number of foreign experts who used to work in this sector a decade ago has come down. It means the dependency on them has been reduced. We want the boys and girls of our country to become experts in this industry,” said BGMEA President Faruque Hassan.
He made the comment at a seminar on “Opportunities prospects in SEIP and probable career build up in RMG sector” jointly organized by the Skills for Employment Investment Program (SEIP) and the BGMEA at the latter’s office in Dhaka on Sunday.
He also underscored the need for students to equip themselves with the knowledge and skills necessary to thrive in the evolving landscape of the fashion world.
He noted that from design to production, technology is driving efficiency, sustainability, and creativity in unprecedented ways.
Recognizing the significance of embracing these advancements, Faruque stressed that the present generation needs to harness the power of technology to propel Bangladesh’s RMG industry to new heights.
The seminar, held on the sidelines of the BGMEA Career Summit and Fest 2023, featured insights from distinguished guests including Fatema Rahim Veena, Additional Secretary, and Executive Project Director of the SEIP, Khandoker Rafiqul Islam, Vice President (Finance) of the BGMEA and Dr Md Sanwar Jahan Bhuiyan, Joint Secretary and Deputy Executive Director of SEIP.
The guests shared their perspectives on the RMG industry’s prospects and the importance of skills development in the face of evolving technological advancements.
The participants also took part in the BGMEA Career Summit and Fest to explore job opportunities offered by 132 leading RMG companies participating in the summit.
