Bangladesh hopes to increase tenfold its apparel exports to China in the next three years, taking advantage of soaring production and wage costs in Asia''s biggest economy, a top business leader said on Sunday. "We hope to raise our garments export to China by 10 times to $1.0 billion by the year 2015," Mohammad Shafiul Islam, President of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), told a news conference.
Islam was speaking after meeting a delegation from the China National Garment Association (CNGA), which said it wanted to significantly increase clothing imports from Bangladesh.
Feng Dehu, vice President of CNGA, said the clothing factories his delegation visited in Bangladesh, which has earned a reputation for restive labour relations and production disruption, were impressive and up to international standards.
Buyers of some major global brands have warned Bangladesh it could lose its key garment business unless peace at factories is guaranteed, labour rights granted and pay demands are met. Bangladesh factories make clothes for companies including Tesco, Wal-Mart, JC Penney, H&M , Marks & Spencer, Kohl''s and Carrefour.