In its endeavour to promote polyester fabrics, saris and dress materials manufactured in Surat, the Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI) plans to set up an extension office at Dhaka with the assistance of Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI). Recently, a SGCCI delegation led by its president B S Agarwal visited Bangladesh and held a series of meetings with the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), FBCCI, Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry at Dhaka to promote synthetic fabrics of Surat.
Agarwal says Bangladesh is the top manufacturer of readymade garments and its garment industry uses around 90 per cent cotton. There is huge potential for Surat fabrics, including saris and dress materials. The FBCCI office-bearers have invited Surti weavers and textile processors to set up their units in Dhaka and Chhitgong.
He further said fabric samples will be sent to the SGCCI office at Dhaka and circulated to all garmenting units there. The SGCCI also needs to register its fabric with the buyers of top world-renowned readymade garment brands. Once Surat's fabric is registered, orders will start flowing. He said the annual export of readymade garments to Europe and the US from Bangladesh is pegged at $28 billion. Most cotton fabric is sourced by garment manufacturers in Bangladesh from India and China. Bangladesh has free trade agreements (FTA) with all leading countries including those of Europe and the US.
