They said proper harnessing of the country's huge human resources by upgrading their skill and knowledge is an indispensable factor for raising the quality of products.

To face the challenges of post multi-fiber arrangement (MFA), apparel producers and exporters must be cautious and prompt in serving the demands of their buyers, the speakers told the inaugural ceremony of a three-day training course on "Maintenance Training Course on Industrial Sewing Machines" at a city hotel.

Association for Overseas Technical Scholarship (AOTS) of Japan organised the training course in joint collaboration with Morimoto Japan, Morimoto Singapore and Bangladesh AOTS Alumni Society (BAAS).

Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) representative in Dhaka Sotaro Nishikawa attended the inaugural function as chief guest while it was also addressed by AOTS representative for Bangladesh and Nepal and also special advisor of AOTS New Delhi Office Dr AKM Moazzem Hussain, Morimoto representative Y Morimoto, BAAS president Jawaherul Ghani and Satoshi Mizuno of Morimito Singapore, among others.

Three instructors -- A Takahashi, K Kikkawa and Michael Meghin -- will conduct the technical sessions of the course, being attended by 30 participants by various garments industries in the city.

Sotaro Nishikawa said Bangladesh has overcome the first widely speculated shock of the withdrawal of quota facilities on its major foreign exchange earning garments sector as well as the whole economy.