Bangladesh's BGMEA president Faruque Hassan and China's CCPIT vice president and secretary general Zhang Tao are said to have discussed a possible collaboration to promote Bangladesh's apparel industry globally and facilitate investments in its growing non-cotton textile sector.
The collaboration between China and Bangladesh is expected to take advantage of CCPIT's international exhibitions and promote Bangladesh's capabilities in making more complex and high-end apparel products, according to local news reports.
BGMEA recently announced non-cotton is a potential growth opportunity for its apparel sector and this was described as a potential area where CCPIT could aid with investment as the country continues to diversify into high-end garments made from man-made fibres.
Hassan also shared the advancements Bangladesh's apparel industry has made in terms of sustainability, safety and modernisation with the president noting the country has the world's highest number of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified factories.
Earlier this month (March) the BGMEA shared its roadmap for the apparel industry to navigate the complexities of diversification and presented concrete steps for stakeholders to enhance their global competitiveness.
The report titled 'Beyond Cotton: A Strategic Blueprint for Fibre Diversification in Bangladesh Apparel Industry' shared recommendations for how Bangladesh can diversify beyond cotton to uncover new opportunities in the global fashion sourcing market.