Desk Report:
Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) and Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) have signed an important Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish Bangladesh’s major foreign exchange earning textile and ready-made garment industry as more competitive, innovative and environmentally friendly at the global level.
BTMA President Shawkat Aziz Russell and BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan signed the MoU on behalf of their respective organizations at a function organized at the Gulshan Club in the capital on Tuesday (August 4).
The joint venture aims to play an effective role in enhancing the global competitiveness of Bangladesh’s textile and ready-made garment sector, technology-based modernization and expansion of new international markets to achieve the export target of $100 billion.
As per the MoU, a world-class Bangladesh International Textile and Apparel Machinery Exhibition (BITMA) will be organized in collaboration with an internationally renowned event organizer. The exhibition will showcase the latest innovations in automation, artificial intelligence (AI), cutting-edge textile technology, smart manufacturing and sustainable fashion.
Under the MoU, a 10-member Joint Organizing Committee will be formed to ensure the overall management of the exhibition, strategic decision-making and financial transparency. The committee will have equal representation of five members each from BTMA and BGMEA. In addition, the chairmanship of the committee will rotate between the two organizations every year. In the first year, the chairman will be from BTMA and the co-chairman from BGMEA.
Speaking at the event, BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan said that their goal is to keep Bangladesh at the forefront of the revolution in artificial intelligence and green technology that is taking place in the global garment industry. This joint initiative of BTMA and BGMEA will help the industry produce high-value products and further strengthen Bangladesh’s position as a global hub for eco-friendly and ethical manufacturing.
BTMA President Shawkat Aziz Russell said that the textile and garment industries are an integral part of the same value chain. This agreement is not just an international exhibition, but a long-term platform for technological transformation, attracting foreign investment and developing a skilled workforce. By bringing international technology suppliers directly to Dhaka, local industrial entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to further advance in global competition.
The event was also addressed by A. Matin Chowdhury, former president of BTMA and managing director of New Asia Limited, Anwar-ul-Alam Chowdhury (Parvez), former president of BGMEA and current president of Bangladesh Chamber of Industries (BCI), Abdullah Al Mamun, former vice president of BTMA, and Mizanur Rahman, vice president (finance) of BGMEA.
The top leadership, office bearers, board members, industrial entrepreneurs and policy makers of BTMA and BGMEA were present at the event.
The speakers expressed their hope that this MoU will increase foreign investment, transfer modern technology, expand international business networks and open new horizons for the long-term sustainable development of Bangladesh’s textile and ready-made garment industry. At the same time, this initiative will also play an important role in increasing the country’s export earnings and economic growth.
