BGMEA, BTMA join forces to drive $100b apparel export goal

Bangladesh's two most influential textile and garment trade bodies have joined forces in a landmark initiative aimed at propelling the country's apparel exports to the coveted US$100 billion milestone through greater technological innovation, sustainability and global competitiveness.

The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Gulshan Club in Dhaka on Tuesday, laying the foundation for a long-term strategic partnership to modernise the country's largest export-earning industry.

The agreement was signed by BTMA President Showkat Aziz Russell and BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan on behalf of their respective organisations.

Under the MoU, the two apex bodies will work jointly to accelerate the transformation of Bangladesh's textile and apparel sector into a technology-driven, innovation-led and environmentally sustainable manufacturing hub capable of competing more effectively in the global marketplace.

A key feature of the partnership is the launch of the Bangladesh International Textile and Apparel Machinery Exhibition (BITMA), an annual international exposition to be jointly organised in Dhaka. The exhibition is expected to become a premier platform for showcasing cutting-edge textile and garment machinery, artificial intelligence, automation, advanced manufacturing technologies, fashion innovation and sustainable production solutions.

The organisers said BITMA would facilitate technology transfer, attract foreign investment, strengthen international trade partnerships and position Bangladesh as a globally recognised destination for sustainable textile and apparel manufacturing.

Industry leaders believe the initiative will play a pivotal role in upgrading the country's textile and garment value chain, enhancing productivity and expanding export capacity as Bangladesh pursues its ambitious US$100 billion export vision.

To oversee the exhibition and ensure effective implementation, the two organisations will establish a 10-member joint organising committee comprising five representatives from each association. The committee will be responsible for strategic planning, operational management and maintaining financial transparency.

The committee's chairmanship will rotate annually between BTMA and BGMEA. During the inaugural year, a BTMA representative will serve as chairman, while a BGMEA representative will assume the role of co-chairman.

Under the agreement, the net profits generated from the exhibition will be shared between the two organisations under a mutually agreed formula.

Both BGMEA and BTMA expressed confidence that the joint management of BITMA would usher in a new era for Bangladesh's textile and apparel industry by accelerating technological advancement, fostering innovation and strengthening sustainable manufacturing practices.

They said the partnership would further reinforce Bangladesh's standing as one of the world's leading apparel sourcing destinations while supporting the industry's long-term growth and export diversification strategy.