Readymade clothing industry shining Bangladesh’s image: Shahriar

The state minister for foreign affairs has said the apparel industry is “inextricably linked with Bangladesh’s success story - not only in economic terms but also in projecting the country’s image”.

“Made in Bangladesh labels are now commonplace in American and European stores. McKinsey has called Bangladesh the “next China” and predicted that Bangladeshi garment exports, now about $28 billion a year, could be doubled by 2020,” Md Shahriar Alam said on Tuesday.

He was speaking at the closing ceremony of the Institute of Business Administration Communication Club’s (IBACC) ‘Brandwitz’.

The state minister said young entrepreneurs with their “new ideas could take this sector forward through their innovation and creativity”.

“It is not just business, it is in a way branding of a country to the wider world.”

Shahriar added that Bangladesh’s branding “is not merely limited to economic fronts, our achievements in social sectors have also captured global attention”.

“Bangladesh has earned global applause and recognition in its role and contributions for women empowerment, poverty alleviation, climate change, water security, ICT and even in migration,” he said.