RMG industrial park outside Dhaka city soon: minister

Industries Minister Dilip Barua yesterday said the government will implement the garment industrial park project outside Dhaka at the quickest possible time to properly harness the huge prospects of RMG export.
“The required work has already started for an environment-friendly industrial park,” he said to a delegation of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) that met him at his Shilpa Bhaban office.
Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) is implementing the project on 300 acres of land at Bausia under Gozaria upazila of Munshiganj district. The BGMEA leaders informed the minister about the rising demand of Bangladeshi apparel products in the global market.
They said China has emerged as a big market for Bangladesh as it is shifting focus on Bangladesh following shortfall of workers in the manufacturing sector.
The apparel exporters said environment-friendly industrialisation is a must for the next generation, and sought government support for that.
The minister assured them of support and said the upcoming D-8 Ministerial conference in Dhaka will create opportunities to expand business, including in the area of RMG export, with the member countries.
The Tk 438cr project is the first government initiative to establish the RMG hub aimed at developing and modernising the potential industry.
The planned park will have numerous infrastructure facilities, including attractive industrial plots, internal roads, drainage facilities, uninterrupted supply of utilities, central effluent treatment plant (CETP), waste-dumping yard and fire fighting equipment.
The RMG industry is considered as the country's largest foreign currency earner, contributing nearly 80 percent of all export earnings. Over 2.5 million workers are now employed in this most labour-intensive sector.
Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) Chairman M Fakhrul Islam, BGMEA acting President M Siddiqur Rahman, BGMEA officials Ahsan Ul Fattah, Khandkar M Rahman and officials of the industries ministry were present.