The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and the Overseas Chinese Association in Bangladesh (OCAIB) have agreed to strengthen cooperation by promoting Chinese investment, technology transfer, and sustainable manufacturing initiatives to enhance the competitiveness of Bangladesh’s ready-made garment (RMG) sector.
The understanding was reached during a high-level meeting held at the BGMEA Complex in Uttara, Dhaka, where industry leaders from both organizations discussed strategies to deepen bilateral industrial cooperation and attract greater Chinese participation in Bangladesh’s apparel value chain.
The meeting was chaired by Inamul Haq Khan, Senior Vice President of BGMEA, and attended by BGMEA Vice Presidents Md. Rezwan Selim, Vidiya Amrit Khan, and Shehab Udduza Chowdhury. The 13-member Chinese delegation was led by Felix Chang WYC, President of OCAIB, along with Vice Presidents Andy Chan, Cliff Ren, Lisa Lu, and Joel Wong.
According to BGMEA, discussions centered on four strategic areas: joint ventures and factory acquisitions, customs and regulatory facilitation, sustainability and green manufacturing, and automation with advanced technologies.
Both sides explored opportunities for direct Chinese investment in Bangladesh’s RMG and backward linkage industries, including joint ventures and acquisitions of underutilized or closed factories to revitalize production capacity through fresh capital and strategic partnerships.
The meeting also highlighted the importance of improving customs procedures, bond management, and machinery clearance through an effective one-stop service to reduce lead times, lower business costs, and improve overall ease of doing business.
In the area of sustainability, participants discussed leveraging China’s expertise in green manufacturing technologies to accelerate the adoption of renewable energy, circular fashion practices, and carbon emission reduction across Bangladesh’s apparel sector.
Technology and innovation were another major focus, with both organizations emphasizing closer cooperation in the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), automation, and advanced manufacturing technologies to prepare the industry for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR).
OCAIB also expressed interest in supporting the development of a carbon trading market in Bangladesh and proposed a machinery exchange initiative for the sweater sector, offering modern equipment in exchange for older jacquard knitting machines. However, the delegation noted that complex customs procedures and administrative bottlenecks remain significant challenges and requested BGMEA’s support in resolving these issues.
In response, BGMEA leaders pledged to raise the concerns with the National Board of Revenue (NBR) and relevant government ministries while facilitating business matchmaking between Bangladeshi entrepreneurs and prospective Chinese investors.
BGMEA also reaffirmed its commitment to expanding higher-value apparel production and sustainable manufacturing, noting that stronger collaboration with OCAIB would enable the industry to benefit from China’s technological expertise and strengthen Bangladesh’s global competitiveness.
OCAIB President Felix Chang WYC praised the resilience and continued growth of Bangladesh’s garment industry and reaffirmed the association’s commitment to bringing new investment opportunities and technical expertise to support the sector’s long-term development.
