The Bangladesh Garment Buying House Association (BGBA) held what it described as an important and constructive meeting at its office with members, chaired by President Abdul Hamid, to address challenges facing the buying house sector and examine ways of expanding international markets.
The association said the discussion focused on identifying new buyers and strengthening Bangladesh’s position in the global apparel industry. During the meeting, M. R. U. N. K. Lodi presented a proposal titled “National Fund for Buying House Export Sustainability and Market Expansion.”
Members emphasized greater participation in international trade fairs, systematic buyer development, market research and the promotion of Bangladeshi brands in overseas markets. M. D. Akhtaruzzaman, Najibul Haque, Mahbubur Rahman, Shahid Hossain, Khondker Jubayed Bin Obayed, Nazrul Islam and Lodi shared their insights, experience and recommendations.
Participants set out priorities covering both external market development and the sector’s internal operations:
- Expanding involvement in international trade fairs and exhibitions.
- Simplifying sample development and presentation processes.
- Strengthening market research and identifying potential international buyers.
- Developing and promoting Bangladeshi brands in overseas markets.
- Enhancing the effectiveness of BGBA’s relevant Standing Committees.
- Strengthening coordination among industry stakeholders to overcome existing challenges.
The proposal’s scope, as described at the meeting, combines export sustainability for buying houses with efforts to widen market access. Trade fairs, buyer development and brand promotion formed the external-facing priorities, while sample development, market research, committee effectiveness and stakeholder coordination were treated as supporting areas for sector operations.
In the meeting’s list of priorities, trade fair participation and market research sit alongside the search for international buyers, while simplified sampling and stronger committees address how buying houses prepare and present their work. Coordination among stakeholders is presented as a cross-cutting requirement for tackling existing challenges.
Hamid welcomed the initiative and appreciated members’ proactive efforts to develop practical solutions. He underlined the need for a realistic, phased approach, effective coordination and engagement with relevant government authorities and the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) to advance the proposed initiatives. The meeting did not report a fund size, disbursement mechanism or implementation schedule.
BGBA said it remains committed to working collaboratively with members and relevant stakeholders to strengthen the buying house sector, expand Bangladesh’s international market presence and enhance the country’s competitiveness in the global apparel industry.