The Bangladesh government is currently negotiating with major importer countries on how to offset the loss incurred from the Coronavirus spread. It is in discussion with the EU, the US and G7 countries. The BGMEA says, export loss due to COVID-19 would be around $2 billion. The government has assigned its concerned department to assess the loss in exports and in remittances.

Local enterprises are producing corona preventive gears and already countries like the USA has requested Bangladesh to supply the gears. Corona preventive equipment from China is likely to arrive in the country soon by a special flight. Some private firms are also importing corona preventive equipment from China which will be available within a couple of days. Meanwhile the pandemic is taking a huge toll on Bangladesh, which is the world's second-largest garment exporter. The industry is rapidly losing orders, and millions of jobs are at stake. Foreign brands are increasingly delaying and canceling orders. "Our orders until June have been canceled,” says Siddiqur Rahman, VP, Federation of the Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI). The situation is dire, he added. BGMEA claims that foreign companies are also canceling orders that are already in production or completed.

March 23, Beijing Chonglee Machinery Engineering Co.Ltd., a subsidiary to China Textile Academy, signed a business contract at its medical-purpose equipment and protective gear workshop to start up the export of its first batch of facemask lines to Italy.

(Mr, Wang Xusheng{in the middle}, Vice President of China General Technology Group and Mr. Zhuang Xiaoxiong (the forth on the right in the rear line), Chairman of China Textile Academy, are at the ceremony to congratulate on contract signing)

The signing ceremony was actually an in-house event as the seller and buyer both live under one roof because Beijing Chonglee Machinery Engineering on the seller side and Italian Branch Company of China General Technology on the buyer side both are parts of China General Technology Group Corp., and the latter responded quickly to the critical demand of medical supplies in Italy and contacted Chonglee Machinery Engineering at the first-things-first time for placing purchase order to import the fully-automatic machines for flat-type face masks to be shipped to Italy ahead of those local manufacturers as in-time “ammunition” for local government to combat the spreading disease.

Ever since its first automatic flat face mask machine was rolled out, there have been 37 machines sold within half a month, including 13 ones for domestic market to ease the shortage of mask production. The contract for the mask machines to go to Italy is a milestone for Chonglee Machinery Engineering for doing business to European countries, and also a breakthrough for medical protective gear and technology to the advanced country in consideration of the fact that Italy itself is a highly advanced country in terms of textile machinery technology and manufacturing.

The contract was signed at the time when the COVID-19 situation continues to improve in China’s endeavors for the infection control and prevention, and China General Technology Group has its advantage of synergetic resources for engineering, trading and manufacturing to render assistance to overseas combat against the rampant virus. Beijing Chonglee Machinery Engineering will continue to speed up its R&D for medical protective gear and technology for further production increase and expansion in quick response to the market needs by virtue of its technological and manufacturing strengths. Besides this new line of business started becuas of the market crisis, Chonglee is best known for its man-made fiber equipment and technology in China, its high speed POY spinning line, FDY combination series, industrial yarn spinning machine, differentiated fiber spinning line, and the highly applaudable automatic winders and texturizers etc., all make it a reliable business partner both at home and abroad.

Its mother organization, China Textile Academy, which was a science and technology institute of the ex-Ministry of Textile Industry in China, and is now also part of China General Technology Group as a result of the state-owned assets reformation and restructuring in more market-oriented direction, adds up more value to its scientific origin of birth, and to its technical strength in the present big family under the new umbrella.

Contributed by Mr. ZHAO Hong 

He is working for CHINA TEXTILE magazine as Editor-in-Chief in addition to being involved in a plethora of activities for the textile industry. He has worked for the Engineering Institute of Ministry of Textile Industry, and for China National Textile Council and continues to serve the industry in the capacity of Deputy Director of China Textile International Exchange Centre, V. President  of China Knitting Industry Association, V. President of China Textile Magazine and its Editor-in-Chief for the English Version, Deputy Director of News Centre of China National Textile and Apparel Council (CNTAC), Deputy Director of International Trade Office, CNTAC, Deputy Director of China Textile Economic Research Centre. He was also elected once ACT Chair of Private Sector Consulting Committee of International Textile and Clothing Bureau (ITCB)

Effective April 1, 2020 Walmart has appointed Sameer Aggarwal to the position of chief executive officer of its India, replacing Krish Iyer, who is retiring from full-time management but will continue to work in an advisory role at Walmart India until June 30.

Aggarwal had joined Walmart India in April 2018 as chief strategy and administrative officer. He was then promoted to deputy CEO of Walmart India in January, making this new appointment his third promotion. He has over two decades of international business experience, including leadership roles at Yum Brands, Sainsbury’s in the UK and China and McKinsey & Co in Australia.

Aggarwal will report to Dirk Van den Berghe executive vice president and regional CEO of Asia at Walmart. He will lead Walmart’s growth strategy in the Indian market. Walmart currently operates 28 Best Price cash-and-carry stores in the country.

Dirk said in a statement: “Sam has done a fantastic job in the past two years. He led the charge to make our proposition more customer-centric, developing digital offerings to prepare for our omnichannel services in the future. I look forward to seeing him make a greater impact on our Best Price members and associates in India.”

Taking into account the public health concerns, travel restrictions and market volatility due to the Coronavirus outbreak, Messe Frankfurt Trade Fairs India decides to postpone the Mumbai edition of Screen Print India 2020 scheduled to be held from 24 – 26 April 2020.

“We have had to take this time-sensitive decision in the interest of our exhibitors, visitors, employees and all the stakeholders involved. While it is a tough call for us as organisers, it is a responsible decision and we are happy to have the full support of the industry,” says Mr Raj Manek, Executive Director and Board Member, Messe Frankfurt Asia Holdings Ltd.

With a large international contingent from China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Switzerland, Singapore, Thailand and the USA slated to participate at the upcoming fair in April, the travel restrictions put in place by governments and local authorities across the world make it difficult for the exhibition to take place as normal and demanded an immediate analysis of the situation.

The Mumbai edition is planned to be held in the later part of the year, and the new dates will be announced in the coming weeks, after consultations with the fair’s international and local supporting associations. The Delhi launch edition continues to be on schedule from 21 – 23 August 2020.

 Modefabriek, an Amsterdam event scheduled to be held between July 5 -6, is the latest fashion event to be cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The organizers of the show said in a statement: “The decision to cancel the upcoming summer edition of Modefabriek regrettably proved to be unavoidable. The Corona pandemic has had an enormous impact on everything that we hold dear, and we realise that it is now impossible for our event to go ahead as planned.”

Looking forward, they would continue to develop the show for upcoming editions. “Here at Modefabriek, we were already developing a broader platform for our branch – in addition to our live event. To offer online and offline solutions, to be a contact point and connector,” the organisers further added.

With the increasing uncertainty, increasing numbers of retailers are temporarily closing their stores in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

PVH has closed all company operated stores in Europe and North America, VF Corporation has closed all company operated retail stores in North America, while H&M Group, John Lewis, Primark, New Look and Debenhams are just a few of the companies which have closed their stores in the UK.

Bangladesh government has initiated discussions with major importing countries sharing their concern for the loss being incurred from the coronavirus spread.

BGMEA (Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association), the leading association estimates around two billion dollars as their export losses due to coronavirus.

“We are in discussion with the EU, the US and G7 countries. We have informed them about our situation and are trying to offset the loss,” Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said in a video briefing on Tuesday.

The minister, however, mentioned that local enterprises are producing corona preventive gears and already countries like the USA has requested Bangladesh to supply the gears.

He also informed that the corona preventive equipment from China will arrive in the country on Thursday by a special flight.

UK-registered charity organisation , The Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP), is offering grants upto £1.5 million to support textile projects that provide innovative ways for textile waste to be recycled or re-used, keeping it out of landfill or incineration so that it remains a valuable resource.

The grants, of between £20,000 and £170,000, are available to organisations of any size, both commercial and not-for-profit. The money is for capital expenditure only; either for equipment or technologies (excluding software and apps) those enable recycling or re-use of clothing or linen waste textiles.

The aim of this grant fund is to address the need for increased capacity, sorting, handling, and reprocessing textiles from municipal sources. The money is part of the department for environment, food and rural affairs’ £18 million Resource Action Fund, set up to support key priority policy areas.

WRAP works with governments, businesses and citizens to create a world in which we source and use resources sustainably.

Gerber Technology, based on its successful initiative in China, announced the creation of the Gerber PPE Task Force and Resource Team to support their global customers and partners as they work to increase their production or transition to manufacturing personal protective equipment (PPE).

In a global context where COVID-19 inexorably continues to spread, the global shortage of masks and other personal protective equipment needed to keep healthcare workers safe is a concern of everyone.

Gerber has helped several customers transition into producing protective masks and other much needed medical supplies including Taglio Marchesini (Italy) and Shanghai Challenge Textile Co. Ltd.

“In what’s an unprecedented global emergency, all of us in the manufacturing industry need to work together to protect those fighting COVID-19 on the front lines,” Mohit Uberoi, CEO of Gerber Technology, as quoted.

South Africa's first Covid-19 lockdown national collective agreement for the clothing and textiles industry was expedited and ratified by the end of March 23.

The primary focus of the agreement sets out several safeguards for workers within the industry. The agreement was formulated by the National Bargaining Council for the Clothing Manufacturing Industry in South Africa. And, the signatories to the clothing industry agreement are the Southern African Clothing & Textile Workers’ Union, the Apparel & Textile Association of South Africa and the South African Apparel Association.

Agreement also sets out to reinforce a belief that all South Africans, their organisations and institutions develop cooperation between themselves and government during this period of national crisis. It also hopes to spur affected parties to “dig deep” to develop support programmes to address issues arising from the threat of Covid-19.

Guarantees of full payments of salaries to 80 000 clothing workers for the lockdown period is also a primary concern highlighted in the agreement.

The establishment of a clothing industry Covid-19 Lockdown Rapid Response Task Team will also be developed to manage immediate practical implementation matters arising from the conclusion of the agreement.