The 2nd-day session was focused on ‘Innovation & product diversification ways to move forward for Bangladesh RMG sector ‘ held on 23 June and moderated by Mohammad Ashraful Islam, Editor & Publisher, Textile Focus. As distinguished panel speaker Abdullah Al Mamun, Director, Abed Textile; Vice President, BTMA; Engr. Selim Reza Sr. VP of ITET & MD of Arian Knit Composite.; Dr. Karthik ND, Regional Managing Director, South Asia, Eurofins Product Testing India Pvt. Ltd.; Khaled Chowdhury, Business Head Fifth Alliance Global Trading Ltd; Mir Shahriar, Country Head-Bangladesh, 360 TF were present.
We must develop an understanding of capacity and improve efficiency and innovation.
–Abdullah Al Mamun, Director, Abed Textile, Vice President BTMA
The present worldwide trade situation reminds us of the diversification of products and markets. We must identify and make unique products of various cultures and traditional clothes. Because recently in a seminar at Calcutta, one delegation of Bhutan asked me if we could make traditional clothing that wear people in Bhutan. I think the query is a big call for us to explore new markets for traditional clothing in the Middle East, North Africa, or South Africa. So, this is the best time for us to find a new product lineup and market, not only focus on the traditional EU or US market. We must develop an understanding of capacity and improve efficiency and innovation.
The new generation of textile engineers should have to adapt to new technologies including digital printing, allover new techniques, jacquard design, knowing new fancy yarn as well as building a mindset for learning new things and quest for exploration.
–Engr. Selim Reza Sr. VP of ITET & MD of Arian Knit Composite
The apparel industry in Bangladesh is the core economic wheel that exports more than 42 billion USD whereas the world apparel market size is 468 billion USD. That means we have a huge scope to grow in the sector by developing expertise and dynamic professionals from the 27 country’s Textile universities. The new generation of textile engineers should have to adapt to new technologies including digital printing, allover new techniques, jacquard design, knowing new fancy yarn as well as building a mindset for learning new things and quest for exploration. They must be involved in various activities to be critical thinkers, gather current information, and read textile magazines like Textile Focus. Besides knowledge, the development of soft and hard skills, leadership quality, and perseverance are also equally important to success in the sector.
Sustainability has been a key focus factor for the apparel industry so now this is highly important to assess the products to find how they are sustainable and made from recycled materials.
–Dr. Karthik ND, Regional Managing Director, South Asia, Eurofins Product Testing India Pvt. Ltd
Eurofins is a testing service provider 1st formed for assessing pesticides in food and beverage in Europe. But now it has been widely providing commercial testing for industry, earth, and people as well. During the Covid period, we did not provide services for Covid tests only rather we tested the Covid test kit in a wide range. Sustainability has been a key focus factor for the apparel industry so now this is highly important to assess the products to find how they are sustainable and made from recycled materials. The worldwide apparel and related business is now 1.5 trillion whereas only 3.9% is consumed as recycled or sustainable. So, this is a very important matter to identify how much the industry is going for sustainability in full pledge in its process and materials. We assess materials such as yarn, fabric, and whatever coming into the production line up, identify process waste from a solid base, and check liquid form-waste or gas form-waste to determine sustainability.
To survive in the crisis period apparel industry must improve its innovative power for new and unique products.
–Khaled Chowdhury, Business Head Fifth Alliance Global Trading Ltd
As you know we are passing a crisis period in the industry where order flow went down and so the sector is facing numerous problems. This is the right time to go for product diversification, explore new markets, and do innovative work to get new business. Concerning the crisis issue our organization is making new sketches for the buyer from the R&D department, offering new products with sustainable materials such as recycled and organic cotton. So, to survive in the crisis period apparel industry must improve its innovative power for new and unique products.
We have a Programme to provide support and services in different countries for financial solutions.
Mir Shahriar, Country Head-Bangladesh, 360 TF
We are facing a difficult situation because of worldwide crises such as the Russia-Ukraine war, before that it was covid crisis that directly impacted Bangladesh’s RMG sector. This is a ten-year cycle where good shape in one turn will come and then the cycle will come for go down trend. In the downturn flow financial market will experience many difficult situations and to rise, the only solution is diversification of financial sources and services. In this regard, 360TF is a tread financing solution provider for export and import. We have a Programme to provide support and services in different countries for financial solutions. We manage and have relations with more than 40 countries, and work with 1100 corporate organizations and 100 Banks to provide services for export-import and fund solutions. So, this will be alternative and diversified fund sourcing rather than depending only on local banks and institutions.
