Dhaka: Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Mahmud Hasan Khan has highlighted the need to expand Bangladesh’s apparel exports to South Korea while also attracting Korean investment in the country’s non-textile sectors. The BGMEA leadership underscored the importance of improved market intelligence sharing and enhanced business-to-business connectivity between Korean and Bangladeshi enterprises to deepen economic cooperation.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Mahmud made this appeal during a meeting with Park Young-sik, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Bangladesh, held at the BGMEA Complex in the capital’s Uttara. The meeting focused on exploring avenues to strengthen bilateral trade and investment ties between Bangladesh and South Korea, with a particular emphasis on the textile and garment sectors.
Present at the meeting were BGMEA Vice-President Md. Shehab Udduza Chowdhury, Director Faisal Samad, and Member Israfil Atique, as stated in a press release. The Ambassador was accompanied by Kim Jeong ki, Consul at the Korean Embassy in Dhaka, and Noh Chy Woo, Country Head of the Spandex Performance Unit and Spandex Plant at Hyosung TNC Corporation (Bangladesh Liaison Office).
During the discussion, Mahmud Hasan Khan highlighted Bangladesh’s growing potential as a destination for South Korean exports of man-made fibers, textile machinery, chemical dyes, and other raw materials. He also pointed out that South Korea is a promising market for Bangladeshi apparel exports, offering significant opportunities for mutually beneficial trade.
President Mahmud Hasan Khan expressed gratitude for South Korea’s historical support in developing Bangladesh’s garment industry, particularly in technical assistance and workforce training during the industry’s formative years. Ambassador Park Young-sik emphasized the importance of aligning Bangladesh’s Export Processing Zones (EPZ) Act 2019 with the Bangladesh Labour Act 2006 to create a more conducive environment for foreign investors.
He also highlighted the need to enhance labor productivity and improve the operational efficiency of the Chattogram port, which is key to facilitating smoother trade operations. Both parties expressed optimism that the signing of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) or an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between Bangladesh and South Korea would significantly benefit both countries by fostering deeper economic integration.
BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan thanked the South Korean government for its continued support and expressed confidence that bilateral relations will continue to strengthen in the coming years.