The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) on Tuesday reiterated its demand for stable policy supports for at least five years - mainly to help attract investment and create employment.
"During the last two years exports declined, while the RMG sector failed to draw significant fresh investment and create new employment due to the pandemic," BGMEA President Faruque Hassan said.
Continuation of policy supports, especially the tax-, duty- and vat-related ones, is a must to sustain competitiveness and create an investment-friendly atmosphere, he said, adding long-term policies help businesses and investors to plan and execute plans accordingly.
Terming short lead-time and speedy delivery 'important' in the current competitive era, he urged the government to resolve the complexities related to HS code.
The BGMEA president was speaking at a press conference on different issues of the garment industry, including his recent visit to the US and the EU, held at a city hotel on Tuesday.
He also urged the government for selling some essential goods to garment workers at low prices to give them relief amid skyrocketing prices of essentials.
The BGMEA leader met the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) chairman on Tuesday in this regard, and urged him to arrange special sales of goods through 40 trucks in garment industrial zones.
The BGMEA also sent a letter to the Ministry of Commerce for selling goods to workers at affordable prices, he added.
Responding to a question, Mr Hassan claimed that garment workers' wages had been increased compared to the pre-Covid situation, and in some cases the rise was 40 per cent.
He also said they are receiving higher prices for garment items from international retailers and brands. But prices have not increased in line with high prices of raw materials and other logistics costs.
The ongoing Russia-Ukraine war is affecting export of goods to Russia and Ukraine in the time of business recovery from severe fallouts of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The BGMEA is lobbying with the influential bodies in Europe and USA, the two main export destinations of the country, so that export grows in near future, he added.
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