Bangladesh’s apparel sector export earnings moved north despite numerous obstacles. And among the reasons for growth are: compliance with buyers’ conditions, reforms in the readymade garment sector and higher investment and production.

The apparel sector earned $23 billion through exporting products in the first nine months of the current financial year. Although export growth was nearly $4 billion after the disaster, the number of garment factories had not increased. There were some 5,867 garment factories in the country in 2012-13 fiscal, dropped to 4,600 in January this fiscal. Though the number of factories has fallen productivity increased gradually. However, the number of readymade garment workers has remained unchanged at 40 lakhs.

Accord-Alliance and the National Action Plan were formed after the Rana Plaza disaster to establish a fire and building safety program in Bangladesh. Many factories were shut down after failing to meet the conditions of the Alliance and NEP. Buyers did not encourage these factories to continue production as most of them were housed in shared buildings. But despite the obstacles, entrepreneurs keep their business on track through more investment.

Though total export earnings have increased their growth rate has fallen. Entrepreneurs have taken various steps to regain buyers’ trust.