The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has launched an initiative to connect Chinese investors with Bangladeshi garment manufacturers seeking fresh capital, technology or joint venture partners, as the industry looks to strengthen its supply chain and revive underutilised factories.
The initiative, announced after a meeting with a high-level delegation from the Overseas Chinese Association in Bangladesh (OCAIB) on Tuesday, aims to facilitate Chinese investment in Bangladesh’s ready-made garment sector through a centralised matchmaking process.
BGMEA said the initiative would focus on attracting investment into backward linkage industries, expanding upstream supply chains and helping operational as well as idle factories secure new capital and advanced technology.
Chinese representatives said many companies were interested in setting up manufacturing facilities, transferring technology and expanding operations in Bangladesh. However, they said a lack of reliable information on local factories had made investment decisions more difficult, requesting BGMEA’s support in identifying suitable partners.
In response, BGMEA said it would collect information from member factories interested in Chinese investment, joint ventures or full or partial equity transfers.
Factory owners will be asked to provide details including factory size, machinery, operational status and their preferred form of partnership. BGMEA will assess the information and share eligible investment opportunities with OCAIB.
The association said the one-stop platform would connect prospective Chinese investors with Bangladeshi manufacturers, enabling closed or financially distressed factories to attract fresh capital and technology while supporting investment in higher value-added apparel production and backward linkage industries.
BGMEA has invited both factory owners and potential investors to submit proposals through its dedicated investment portal.
The meeting was led by BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan.
Other BGMEA representatives included Vice-President (Finance) Mijanur Rahman, Director Shah Rayeed Chowdhury, Director Joarder Mohammad Hosne Komar Alam and Director Samiha Azim.
The OCAIB delegation comprised Vice-President Lisa Lou, Vice-President and Secretary General Vivian Huang, Executive Director Steven Zhang and Secretary Tina Hu.
