Buyers list challenges to higher RMG exports

Bangladesh needs to address four specific challenges to achieve higher garment export growth, international buyers said yesterday.
“You [Bangladesh] need to have good factory managers and technical persons for higher garment export growth,” said Richard Vuylsteke, the president of American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong.
Infrastructure and labour wages are the other two issues concerning the international buyers, said Vuylsteke, who is leading a delegation of international buyers to Bangladesh.
Although Bangladesh is on its way to becoming the first choice for international buyers after China, they have alternatives such as Vietnam, Myanmar, Indonesia and Cambodia, he said.
Vuylsteke said they have been citing those issues to the stakeholders so that their businesses are not hampered.
The buyers include Walmart, VFC, Tradecard, Target, PVH, Li & Fung Group, Kiabi, H&M, Esprit, Carter's, C&A, Mondial, Amer Sports and Avery Dennison.
The group accounted for $5.6 billion, which is more than one-fourth of Bangladesh's garment exports in fiscal 2011-12, according to data from Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association.