Local and international stakeholders are going to the convent during the Made in Bangladesh Week to discuss the scope of pursuing excellence in the RMG industry of Bangladesh and ways of forging collaborations to build a more resilient and sustainable industry.
The mega event will host a gathering of more than a thousand people from home and abroad, including key stakeholders in the local and global fashion industry like buyers, garment and textile manufacturers, trade bodies, policymakers, economists, development partners, embassies, and journalists who are expected to share their insight on how to foster industry collaboration in fashion to drive positive impacts on the industry, thus on the lives of people and the planet.
The Dhaka Apparel Summit will feature nine interactive panel sessions covering the following industry topics:
1. RMG Sector Roadmap: Towards a prosperous future
2. Logistics infrastructure to take Bangladesh to the next level of economic growth
3. From global to local value chains – Strategic Alliance and collaborative capacity building for a diversified and innovative Industry.
4. Co-creating Sustainability – Shared risks and rewards
5. Bangladesh’s LDC Graduation – Impediments and way forward
6. Responsible business needs a global alliance on due diligence – the perspective of manufacturers and the Western buyers
7. Ensuring Workers’ Well-being
8. Addressing skill gaps – Technology and how It can shape the industry in the next 10 years
9. Altering the chronicle of Bangladesh RMG Industry narrative
More than 60 local and international speakers join the sessions in the two-day conference to be held on 15th and 16th Nov during Made in Bangladesh Week.
The ticket can be purchased at: https://madeinbangladeshweek.com/das
Tipu Munshi MP, Minister of Commerce, Bangladesh; Salman F Rahman, MP, Private Industry and Investment Adviser to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh; Md. Atiqul Islam, Mayor, Dhaka North City Corporation; Faruque Hassan, President of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA); Joris Aperghis, CEO, WE Fashion; Katharine Stewart, Group Corporate Responsibility Director, Associated British Foods Plc; Peter McAllister, Executive Director, Ethical Trading Initiative; Avedis Seferian, President & CEO, WRAP (Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production); Holly Syrett, Impact Programmes & Sustainability Director, Global Fashion Agenda; Felicity Tapsell, Responsible Sourcing Manager, BESTSELLER; Shwapna Bhowmick, Bangladesh country manager for Marks & Spencer (M&S); Rene Van Berkel, UNIDO Representative & Head, UNIDO Regional Office in India; Werner Lange, coordinator-Textile Cluster, GIZ; Tuomo Poutiainen, Country Director, ILO Country Office for Bangladesh will participate in the panel discussions as speakers.
The sessions will also be attended by Charles Whiteley, EU Ambassador to Bangladesh; M Riaz Hamidullah, Ambassador of Bangladesh to the Kingdom of the Netherlands; Anne van Leeuwen, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Netherlands to Bangladesh; Md. Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin, MP, former President of FBCCI and BGMEA; Dr. Nazneen Ahmed, Country Economist, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Bangladesh; Zafar Sobhan, Editor, Dhaka Tribune as speakers.
Besides, industry leaders including Shahidullah Azim, Vice President, BGMEA, Miran Ali, Vice President, BGMEA; Barrister Shehrin Salam Oishee, Director, BGMEA; Asif Ashraf, Director, BGMEA; Abdullah Hil Rakib, Director, BGMEA; Barrister Vidiya Amrit Khan, Director, BGMEA; Md. Imranur Rahman, Director, BGMEA; Shams Mahmud, Chair of BGMEA Standing Committee on Foreign Mission Cell; Shovon Islam (Shawn), Chair of BGMEA Standing Committee on Press, Publication, and Publicity; and Sharif Zahir, Managing Director, Ananta Group will speak in the panel discussions.
The “Made in Bangladesh Week” will be organized by Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers & Exporters Association (BGMEA) in partnership with Bangladesh Apparel Exchange (BAE).
The week-long initiative will present physical events comprising summits, expositions, exhibitions, awards, factory tours, cultural shows, and networking dinners from 12th to 18th November this year.
BGMEA President Faruque Hassan said, “The RMG industry of Bangladesh has come a long way and positioned the country as a preferred choice of global buyers as a safe, green, and ethical hub of apparel sourcing. Building on the success achieved so far, the industry aims to pursue its growth in a sustainable manner to positively impact the environment and make a difference in the lives of people. The Made in Bangladesh Week will be a unique platform to showcase the impressive stories behind the ‘Made in Bangladesh’ tagline while forging collaborations among the stakeholders to ensure Bangladesh remains a preferred destination for global apparel sourcing.”
Mostafiz Uddin, founder and CEO of the Bangladesh Apparel Exchange (BAE) and Bangladesh Denim Expo, said, “The industry is now at a crossroads having both opportunities and challenges. The event will provide a useful platform to spark discussions about how the industry will move ahead in addressing key issues like sustainability, new due diligence, and fair and equitable supply chain. It will also present a unique opportunity to international stakeholders to experience Bangladesh and its RMG industry in a way they perhaps have not witnessed before.”
The official website of ‘Made in Bangladesh Week’ (https://www.madeinbangladeshweek.com) contains detailed information about the event.
