Business team to visit India on Nov 24
A business delegation comprising top leaders of the apparel industry will visit India on November 24 to explore market and exchange information with Indian businessmen.
"We've tentatively fixed November 24 to November 25 for the two-day visit. The talks during the visit will help minimise gap," Abdul Matlub Ahmed, president of India-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IBCCI), told the news agency over phone.
Matlub said they would assure their Indian counterparts that there is nothing to be worried about duty-free access of Bangladeshi products to their market.
"And we'll let them know we're willing to go for joint ventures in Bangladesh."
He said an industrial park is underway in Kishoreganj. "We'll offer them to join us in joint ventures in the industrial park."
During the visit, the Bangladesh team will meet Indian Textiles Minister Anand Sharma and discuss with the owners of India's big apparel chain-shops and top textile manufacturers and exchange market-related information.
The IBCCI will lead the 10 to 12-member delegation with the representatives of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA).
"Exploring market is our main target. But the things are yet to be finalised," said M Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin, BGMEA president.
"India is a big market. The planned visit is just part of market development," said Nasir Uddin Chowdhury, BGMEA first vice president.
India offered duty- and quota-free market access to 46 Bangladeshi products, mainly the textile items, with immediate effect during Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's Dhaka visit in September this year.
It will be the first visit to India by apparel exporters after the achievement in the export sector.
India has a $30 billion cloth market, and duty- and quota-free market access has opened an avenue of widening Bangladesh's export.
Commerce ministry officials said the government is in negotiation with India for getting duty- free access of more Bangladeshi products.
Industry insiders said the apparel trade bodies have a plan to organise single country apparel fair in all big cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Madras and Bangalore in the coming days to give Indian retailers a positive view about Bangladesh garment products.
Comments