Bangladesh is pulling up its socks on quality check for RMG exports. Ispahani Summit Alliance Terminals a new company has set up a quality control center to ensure export of quality apparel products. The company will offer pick and pack services and work as an agent of foreign buyers. Buyers will pay the charges and fees against the services provided by the quality control company.

There are some 20 such companies in Bangladesh. The first quality control company, Koheni Negali, came up in 1998. Apparel exporters, however, fear there would be hidden costs that buyers would pass on to exporters. They also claim that the lead time of exports will be reduced and cost of export products would go up following the latest decision. They fear disputes may arise with foreign buyers over the issue of a private quality control center and affect the export trade.

The entire issue of a private quality control mechanism for export of apparels may be reviewed soon to make it more exporter-friendly. Buyers sometimes are wary of sending foreign quality control experts due to the political turmoil and security reasons. Currently quality control representatives of foreign buyers check quality of products inside factories and hand those over for shipments after packing.