Bangladesh Apparel Exports Ranked Fourth In The World

Faruque Hassan, vice president of Bangladesh garment manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), said that Bangladesh is the world's fourth largest exporter of clothing, contributing 3% of the world's total exports to the World Trade Organization (WTO).

He said that in the past 30 years, the export of garment industry in Bangladesh has grown staggering. In the past 20 years, Bangladesh has become a global sourcing center.

Bangladesh is the largest exporter of cotton t-shirts to Japan and European countries. It is the second largest exporter of cotton pullovers and jeans. In terms of quantity, Bangladesh is the largest country exporting cotton trousers to the United States.

BGMEA vice president further pointed out that although Bangladesh's economic and garment manufacturing industry still has considerable competitive advantage, but the competition in the world garment market is intensified, forcing manufacturers to improve product quality inspection, and factories must enhance customer and social responsibility. All these factors have led Bangladesh to become an emerging global garment supplier country.

At present, Bangladesh has more than 5000 garment manufacturing enterprises, employing about 2 million people, ninety percent of whom are women.