In the online Social Responsibility Committee Meeting held recently with American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA), Faruque Hassan, President, BGMEA discussed how Bangladesh and its apparel industry is doing in terms of exports and maintaining health protocols in this difficult time of COVID-19.

As per an UNB report, Hasan raised issues that are pertinent to responsible business practices and socially responsible supply chains; for example, ethical sourcing and purchasing practices, particularly the worsening trend in import price, which is unjustifiable to the sustainability strides made by the manufacturers.

He also flagged the issue of audit fatigue and the need for a unified code of conduct for social audits which will be beneficial for the buyers, manufacturers and workers at large.

Further, Hassan accentuated the importance of collaborative and strategic partnership between business to business and association to association to make businesses more complementary, resilient and sustainable.

He highlighted the prospects of the industry and the need for industry upgrading – particularly in the area of skills and efficiency enhancement; technological upgrading, and diversification of products (especially non-cotton) and welcomed US investments in these areas.