Dhaka: The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has launched a special initiative in collaboration with the Overseas Chinese Association in Bangladesh (OCAIB) to attract Chinese investment and promote joint ventures aimed at strengthening the backward linkage and upstream supply chain of the country's readymade garment (RMG) sector. The initiative also seeks to bring fresh capital and advanced technology into both operational and closed factories, according to a BGMEA press release issued today.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the decision was taken at a bilateral meeting held at the BGMEA Complex in Uttara, Dhaka, between BGMEA leaders and a high-level delegation from OCAIB. BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan led the BGMEA delegation, which included Vice-President (Finance) Mijanur Rahman, Directors Shah Rayeed Chowdhury, Joarder Mohammad Hosne Komar Alam, and Samiha Azim. The OCAIB delegation featured Vice President Lisa Lou, Vice President and Secretary General Vivian Huang, Executive Director Steven Zhang, and Secretary Tina Hu.
During the meeting, the Chinese delegation highlighted the importance of foreign investment to modernise and strengthen Bangladesh's upstream garment supply chain. They noted that many Chinese companies are interested in establishing factories, transferring technology, and expanding business operations in Bangladesh but often face difficulties in making investment decisions due to the lack of accurate and reliable information. The delegation sought BGMEA's active support in providing relevant information and facilitating coordination with potential local partners.
Responding to the proposal, BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan stated that the association would collect information from its member factories through email. Factory owners interested in bringing Chinese capital and advanced technology into their operating or closed factories, or those seeking joint venture partners through full or partial ownership transfer, would be requested to submit detailed information to BGMEA. This information includes the factory's name and profile, factory space, machinery details and quantity, current operational status, and the nature of the expected partnership.
Based on the information received, BGMEA will assess the factories' capacity and business potential before sharing the details with OCAIB to facilitate investment matching. The association mentioned that the one-stop mechanism jointly developed by BGMEA and OCAIB would help establish effective business linkages between Bangladeshi factory owners and prospective Chinese investors. The initiative is expected to help revive closed and financially distressed factories through new investment and technology, while accelerating foreign investment in backward linkage industries and high-value apparel manufacturing.