Coronavirus outbreak may affect RMG sector: Commerce Minister

Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi said the government is fearing an adverse effect of the outbreak of novel coronavirus in China on Bangladesh's readymade garment (RMG) sector.

There is no reason for price hike of the daily commodities like onion, garlic, ginger etc. due to the outbreak of the virus, but it can have an impact on the materials related to the country's RMG sector, he told the journalists during a business fair inauguration programme at a hotel in the capital today.

"Commerce ministry summoned over different ministries, on February 6, to discuss on how to tackle the ongoing virus crisis," the minister said.

"All the ministries concerned, who attended the meeting arranged by Ministry of Commerce, were asked to report the necessary measures they have taken to confront the global crisis," he added.

Tipu Munshi assured that Bangladesh is not solely dependent on China for daily commodities, therefore the virus crisis will not influence the onion market.

However, he warned that the global economic depression caused by the virus outbreak may affect the national economy.

Minister Tipu Munshi inaugurated the Corporate Connect: 2020 Conference & Business Fair at the capital's Radisson Blu Dhaka Water Garden Hotel. The programme is jointly arranged by the World Bank Group and the Ministry of Commerce in collaboration with WEConnect International with the support of the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi).