RMG workers in a Bangladesh factory. BBN file photo.

Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) - Four more Bangladeshi readymade garment factories have obtained the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, the BGMEA said.

The factories are Ananta Jeanswear Ltd, Big Boss Corporation Ltd, Aptech Caswier Ltd, and Basic Shirts Limited.

The factories received the certification from the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) for their green initiatives in apparel manufacturing.

The recent accomplishment brings the tally of Bangladesh's LEED-certified green factories to 224, the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) said on Thursday.

According to the BGMEA, 59 out of the world's top 100 garment factories are in Bangladesh.

Of the 224 certified factories, 88 have achieved the highest, platinum rating, 122 have earned gold, 10 silver, and 4 are certified, the BGMEA noted.

BBN/SSR/AD

Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)

The price projection for the year-end 2020/21 average of the ‘A Index’ is 62.8 cents per pound this month, according to the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC)’s latest update.

The current 2020/21 cotton consumption forecast is 23.9 million tonnes, representing a 5.0 per cent increase from the previous season.

Cotton production for 2020/21, on the other hand, is projected to move in the opposite direction, posting a 5.0 per cent decrease to 24.8 million tonnes largely due to 2.0 million hectare decrease in global area.

Cotton consumption is expected to recover in 2020/21 if global economic growth recovers as consumer demand increases, but as always it will continue to face stiff competition from synthetic fibres.

BBN/SSR/AD

Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)

“At this moment, our first and only priority is to ensure health safety of our labourers,” said BGMEA in a statement on Friday against the backdrop of rumours in social media regarding factory reopening.

It said misleading information is being spread out in social media platforms on reopening of the garments factories.

BGMEA said it stands firm on this issue.

”We’ve to keep us safe and healthy before reopening our factories,” it added.

On Thursday, entire Bangladesh was declared risky for coronavirus pandemic as the number of COVID-19 positive cases across the country has increased sharply in the last few days.

Bangladesh on Friday reported 15 more deaths from the novel coronavirus, the highest so far in a single day, along with 266 fresh positive cases overnight.

“Fifteen more COVID-19 patients died in the last 24 hours, raising the death toll from the pandemic to 75,” Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque told a virtual media briefing at the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) in Dhaka.

BBN/SSR/AD

RMG workers in a Bangladesh factory. BBN file photo.

Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- At least 90 percent workers of the ready-made garments (RMG) sector will receive their wages through the digital payment system by the next 2021 as per the move of the government to build a digital Bangladesh.

Out of about 4.1 million RMG workers, around 1.5 million are currently getting their wages through the digital payment system.

The information was reveled at the “Bangladesh Digital Wages Summit”, organised by the Access to Information (a2i) Programme of the ICT Division and supported by the Cabinet Division, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations-based Better Than Cash Alliance, at the Radisson Blue Water Garden Hotel in Dhaka on Wednesday.

Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun attended the opening panel discussion on “Scaling digital wages for employees and manufacturers” at the summit.

State Minister for ICT Division Zunaid Ahmed Palak, Deputy Governor of Bangladesh Bank Ahmed Jamal, President of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Dr Rubana Huq, Resident Representative of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Sudipto Mukerjee, International Lebour Organization (ILO) Country Director and UN Representative Tuomo Poutiainen and the Bangladesh Country Manager for Marks and Spencer Shwapna Bhowmick also took part in the discussion.

The opening panel discussion was moderated by the Policy Advisor of a2i Anir Chowdhury.

Managing Director of the United Nations-based Better Than Cash Alliance Dr Ruth Goodwin-Groen delivered the welcome speech.

In his speech, Humayun said digital payment system is an important channel through which the government is bringing the garment employees into the formal sector and allow them to access digital services and pay for it, while helping them transition.

He said the industries ministry will provide all sorts of support to the ready-made garments sector to leverage new technologies that will improve the lives of garment workers. “These efforts will, in turn, improve our country’s economic growth,” he added.

He said the country is moving forward to be a developed one under the prudent policy and dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is developing all sectors to achieve the targets of Vision-2021 and Vision-2041. We are very confidence that we will achieve the targets,” he added.

Zunaid Ahmed Palak said Bangladesh has specific targets of 2021 to become middle income country, 2024 for graduating from least developed countries (LDCs), 2030 for achieving the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and 2041 for developed country.

For achieving all of the goals, he said, Bangladesh will have to empower women as they are half of the total population. “Moreover, 80 percent of our RMG workers are women. Without ensuring financial empowerment, we cannot ensure the women empowerment,” he added.

Palak said the government has a specific target to go cash-less society within 2021. By 2021, when the country is going to celebrate 50 years of independent, at least 90 percent of our garments workers will get their wages through the digitized system, he added.

The state minister informed that now the government is developing ‘interoperable digital human transaction platform’ and under the platform, all the financial service providers will get the opportunities to work together.

“We are dedicating our services to coordinate, support and test innovative solutions to digitize payroll in order to empower garment workers, particularly women,” he added.

Ahmed Jamal said the central bank is committed to drive down costs and improve access to digital financial services through building an enabling environment.

Dr Ruth Goodwin-Groen said, “We are committing to help bring together the key public and private sector stakeholders who can take wage digitization in Bangladesh to the next level.”

Rubana Huq said, “Through digitizing wages, we are pledging to further promote financial benefits, such as cash-back, reward points and merchant discounts, to increase the value of wages.”

BBN/SSR/AD

Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)

"Sustainability is not an option but a must for the Bangladesh apparel industry. So, the SAF aims to add pace to the sustainability momentum and drive discussions to that end,” Mostafiz Uddin, a key organizer of the forum said during a press conference in Dhaka on Monday, reports SPORTSWEAR INTERNATIONAL.

The SAF is being organized by the Bangladesh Apparel Exchange (BAE) and the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) with support from the embassies of the Netherlands and Sweden, H&M, Better Work Bangladesh and C&A Foundation.

Mr. Uddin, founder and CEO of the BAE, said the second SAF is going to be the biggest event in the history of the Bangladesh apparel industry.

This is high time for the Bangladesh garment industry to demonstrate its determination to make the industry sustainable, diplomats and business leaders said while explaining the necessity for sustainability at the press conference.

A sustainable readymade garment sector will help ensuring economic growth, job creation and social progress of Bangladesh, they added.

GJ Harry Verweij, ambassador of the Netherlands in Bangladesh, said nobody wants to buy products that are made by children or that seriously harm the environment.

“People expect products to be responsibly sourced. People feel they have a right to fair products, produced without human rights violations and environmental damage,” the diplomat explained.

Apparel consumption is set to increase by 65 per cent by 2030 globally when the population will go up by 16 per cent, creating huge business potential for Bangladesh’s garment industry, according to Ziaur Rahman, H&M’s country manager for Bangladesh, Pakistan and Ethiopia.

“Environmental pollution will appear as a big challenge then, as it is spreading at the same rate of the global apparel consumption,” the H&M official added.

Mr. Rahman also said that his company had already asked all of its suppliers and manufacturers to be more aware of the sustainability of the fashion business.

Bangladesh has already built up many world-class green garment factories solely for sustainability of the business and environment, not under any buyer’s prescription, Rubana Huq, president of the BGMEA, said.

“For me sustainability is not only environment, it is very much about sustainable factories, labour practice and of course sustaining and subscribing sustainable environment prices,” the BGMEA chief added.

Charlotta Schlyter, Sweden’s ambassador to Bangladesh, and MA Rahim (Feroz), vice-president of the BGMEA also spoke on the occasion.

The SAF will include a series of panel discussions on critical issues such as water sustainability, actions to combat climate change, transparency and responsible purchasing practice among others where more than 50 speakers from home and abroad are expected to share their expert opinions, according to the organizers.

BBN/SSR/AD

Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)

While global consumption in the coming season is expected to increase, the gains will be minimal, and production (26.8 million tonnes) is expected to slightly outpace consumption (26.5 million tonnes) in 2019/20.

The East Asia region will continue to lead the world in consumption, but growth likely will be modest, and China’s 2018/19 consumption total of 8.25 million tonnes is expected to remain unchanged in the coming season.

Several major consuming countries should see gains –including India, Bangladesh and Vietnam –but overall growth is slowing, and none of those countries is likely to see gains of 2.0 per cent or more, with the exception of Indonesia (projected 4.0 per cent growth over 2018/19).

BBN/SSR/AD

File photo: Wikimedia

Washington DC (BBN)- Cotton consumption will outpace production by 1.0 million tonnes in 2018/19, with projected totals of 26.7 million tonnes and 25.7 million tonnes, respectively if the trends continue.

According to latest report on cotton, prepared by the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC), major producers including the USA, Pakistan and Australia suffered production losses due to poor weather conditions and lack of available water.

But Turkey and Brazil both posted positive totals in 2018/19, with Brazil setting a record-high production of 2.7 million tones, it added.

The 2018/19 projected ending stocks of 17.8 million tonnes are expected to expand to 18.7 million tonnes by the end of next season, with stocks outside of China reaching an all-time high of 10.5 million tonnes.

If consumption increases in 2019/20, it likely will come from the emerging economies in Asia and Southeast Asia.

BBN/SSR/AD

BBN file photo

Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- Denimsandjeans Vietnam is set to launch its 4th season on June 12 focusing to ensure sustainability in the denim industries.

The theme of the show is “MY EARTH MY DENIM”, which once again stresses the importance of sustainability.
There will be 40 plus exhibiting companies from around the globe is expected to take part at the international denim and sportswear supply chain event.

Exhibiting companies from 10 countries are participating this time, including Artisitic Milliners, Arvind, Black Peony, Coats, T&T Garments, Prosperity Textile, Foison, SD Chemicals, Ramsons, Kassim Denim, US Denim & Apparels, Crescent Bahuman, Swarovski, and Soorty, according to the organizers.

Sandeep Agarwal, chief executive officer of Denimandjeans.com, is talking with press about the upcoming show in Vietnam on Friday. Photo: Collected

Two design houses from China, Ciecro Design and DNA1964, will be presenting their latest denim designs, they added.
Four important ‘Denim Talks’ by experts from the US and Europe are scheduled to be held at the expo with highlighting to ensure sustainability in the emerging sector.

The latest edition of Denimsandjeans Vietnam brings not only the Denim supply chain partners and experts at one platform on June 12-13 but this time it also adds a special fashion show --When Denim Met AO DAI.

AO-DAI is a traditional Vietnamese and slightly ancient fashion wear. It is an aspect that expresses the desire to affirm the image of Denim Vietnam in the eyes of world friends , before this show, its Denim avtar was never thought of and was never seen, this time it will be on ramp walk at Denimsandjeans Vietnam Show.

BBN/SSR/AD

Washington DC (BBN)

There is some hope that American and Chinese representatives might be able to de-escalate the conflict later this month when they’re together at the G20 Summit in Osaka, Japan, International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) said in its latest update, released on Monday.

However, the US government recently announced it will provide $16 billion in additional support to its farmers, potentially indicating plans for a prolonged standoff.

Prices have suffered from the escalating tariffs, dropping to a season-low of 76 cents per pound on May 14th.

Although global consumption is expected to rise by 1.0 per cent, production is expected to jump 7.0 per cent, with the resulting increase in global stocks exerting further downward pressure on prices.

BBN/SSR/AD

BBN file photo

Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- Bangladesh denim expo is set to begin on Thursday aiming to drive the denim industry towards the direction of circularity.

The 10th edition of Bangladesh Denim Expo is scheduled to be held in the capital on May 02-03, organized by Bangladesh Apparel Exchange (BAE).

“The theme of Circularity is to raise awareness and open debate about the need to embrace circular business practices. We live in a world where we are producing too much clothing product that is then discarded rather than reused, recycled or repurposed – this linear business model is unsustainable for the future”, Mostafiz Uddin, founder and CEO of Bangladesh Apparel Exchange (BAE) and Bangladesh Denim Expo, said in a statement.

“We’ve chosen Circularity as the theme of the expo because it is one of the most pressing topics facing the denim industry, and the wider apparel industry at present”, Mohiuddin Rubel, managing director of the BAE, explained.

A total of 63 exhibitors from 11 countries are going to exhibit in the much awaited show of denim manufacturers and buyers; where circularity will be pushed in a number of ways to bring positive changes in the denim industry of Bangladesh, they added.

BBN/SSR/AD