Bangladesh’s two leading textile and apparel trade associations—the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA)—have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration and support the country’s ambition of achieving $100 billion in apparel exports.
The agreement was signed at the Gulshan Club in Dhaka by BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan Babu and BTMA President Showkat Aziz Russell, marking a significant milestone in fostering stronger cooperation between the garment manufacturing and textile sectors.
Under the partnership, BGMEA and BTMA will jointly organize the Bangladesh International Textile and Apparel Machinery Exhibition (BITMA), scheduled to take place in December 2026. The exhibition aims to showcase advanced textile machinery, artificial intelligence (AI) solutions, sustainable manufacturing technologies, fashion innovations, investment opportunities, and global business partnerships.
The two organizations said the collaboration will help position Bangladesh as a globally recognized hub for sustainable, technology-driven textile and apparel manufacturing while promoting innovation, technology transfer, workforce development, and international market expansion.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan Babu said that although differences occasionally arise between textile and garment manufacturers, both industries ultimately share the same objective of strengthening Bangladesh’s apparel exports.
He also proposed establishing a joint arbitration mechanism to resolve disputes related to Proforma Invoices (PI) and Letters of Credit (LC), ensuring smoother business transactions and greater trust between textile mills and garment exporters.
BTMA President Showkat Aziz Russell said the association’s renowned textile machinery exhibition, previously known as DTG, will evolve into a larger and more internationally recognized platform through the partnership with BGMEA. He added that the collaboration would enhance Bangladesh’s global competitiveness by promoting advanced manufacturing technologies and deeper integration across the textile value chain.
Industry leaders believe the strategic alliance will strengthen the country’s backward linkage industry, encourage sustainable industrial development, facilitate technology adoption, attract international investment, and create new opportunities for exporters as Bangladesh works toward its long-term export growth objectives.
