The ‘$100 Billion RMG Export Cell’ initiative will streamline coordination and drive growth in Bangladesh’s apparel export sector, aiming to reach $100 billion by 2027-28, Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) Vice Chairman Md Anwar Hossain said on Thursday.
Speaking at the American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh (AmCham) breakfast meeting, Hossain outlined the cell’s role in strengthening coordination across energy, banking, and tax sectors.
The meeting, focused on “Bangladesh’s RMG Sector: The Way Forward,” also featured key figures, including President of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Mahmud Hasan Khan and Director of BGMEA Faisal Samad, according to an AmCham press release.
AmCham President Syed Ershad Ahmed emphasised Bangladesh’s heavy reliance on the garment sector, which constitutes 81.5 per cent of exports and 11 per cent of GDP. He warned that US tariff hikes could cut GDP growth by 1-2 percentage points, urging diversification and proactive policies to mitigate global trade risks.
Chairperson of the Bangladesh Competition Commission AHM Ahsan advocated for vertical diversification in the sector to bolster export resilience. Khan addressed energy shortages, criticized the cancellation of 54 Letters of Intent (LOIs), and called for renegotiations to restore investor confidence. He also highlighted challenges facing mid- and low-tier factories, many of which struggle with basic productivity metrics, leading to closures and unrest.
Hossain also referenced a proposed bank-backed bond facility for exporters and noted that improved US-Bangladesh relations could open new export avenues.
Participants raised concerns about energy insecurity, the absence of global sportswear brands, and weak backward linkages. They called for stronger policy coherence, automation, green manufacturing, and logistics upgrades.
Other attendees included Director General (Investment Ecosystem) at the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority Gazi AKM Fazlul Haque and First Secretary (Customs: Export & Bond) at the National Board of Revenue Mohammad Naziur Rahman Miah. US Embassy representatives Paul Frost and Leena Khan were also present.
The meeting concluded with a call for ongoing collaboration between government bodies and businesses to address the sector’s challenges and find coordinated solutions.