Bangladesh and India should build an integrated textile ecosystem based on “one supply chain, two countries and one global ambition” to strengthen their competitiveness in the global apparel market, industry leaders said at a seminar in Dhaka. The event, titled “Advancing Bangladesh-India Textile Value Chains through Seamless Logistics and Trade Facilitation”, focused on improving bilateral trade, logistics connectivity and cooperation between the two countries’ textile and apparel industries.
Organised by the India-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IBCCI) in association with Conference & Exhibition Management Services (CEMS-Global), the seminar was held on Thursday at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Centre (BCFEC) in Purbachal, Dhaka. The session was moderated by Jabed Ahmed, Chief Consultant of CEMS Limited.
Presenting the keynote paper, Mustazirul Shovon Islam, Managing Director of Sparrow Group, said Bangladesh needed to increase the production of value-added and higher-value apparel products to maintain its position in the global market. He said India could serve as an important and accessible source of quality textile raw materials, calling for greater cooperation rather than focusing on individual gains or losses.
“To sustain Bangladesh’s leadership in the global apparel market, we need to increase the production of value-added and higher-value products. This requires high-quality textiles, and India is one of the most accessible and important sources for these raw materials,” he said.
He added that stronger cooperation could help establish an integrated regional textile and apparel supply chain, allowing both Bangladesh and India to improve their global competitiveness.
Speakers at the seminar included Amit Kumar Tiwari, Vice President of IBCCI; A.K.M. Saifur Rahman, Director of IBCCI; A.T.M. Altaf Hossain Lotus, Director of IBCCI; Amit Kumar, Country Head of State Bank of India and Director of IBCCI; and Md. Faizur Rabbee, Deputy Director of Invest Bangladesh.
The speakers highlighted the need to improve logistics infrastructure, simplify customs procedures and ensure smoother cross-border movement of goods. They said reducing trade and logistics barriers would help create more efficient textile and apparel value chains and enhance the competitiveness of both countries.
The seminar was organised as part of the 25th Bangladesh edition of the Textile Series of Exhibitions by CEMS-Global USA. The ongoing exhibitions include the 25th Textech Bangladesh 2026 International Expo, the 26th Dhaka International Yarn & Fabric Show 2026 – Summer Edition, and the 53rd Dye+Chem Bangladesh 2026 International Expo, being held from September 2 to 5 at BCFEC.
The exhibitions feature textile and apparel machinery, yarn, fabrics, trims, accessories, dyestuffs, chemicals and emerging technologies. Organisers said around 1,475 companies from 37 countries are participating across more than 2,245 booths and pavilions, with business visitors expected to exceed 16,000.
The exhibitions were inaugurated on September 2, with Meherun N. Islam, President and Group Managing Director of CEMS-Global USA and Asia-Pacific, presiding over the ceremony. Sharf Uddin Ahmed Choudhury, Secretary of the Ministry of Textiles and Jute, attended as chief guest, while Dr. Md. Abdus Sabur, Secretary and Director General of the Department of Textiles under the Ministry of Textiles and Jute, attended as guest of honour.
Five international seminars are being held alongside the exhibitions, which also feature a Digital Transformation Zone showcasing enterprise resource planning (ERP), automation, cloud systems, artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT) and digital machinery solutions. The exhibitions remain open to business visitors from 10:00am to 7:00pm daily until September 5.
