Doing business will be cheaper: Forum says in poll manifesto
Export market expansion and BGMEA’s image building will also be on the priority list
Forum, a panel of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) members, said it will work to reduce the cost of doing business if voted to power.
Besides, export market expansion and image building of the BGMEA will also be on the priority list, said Forum panel leader ABM Shamsuddin while announcing their poll manifesto in Dhaka Tuesday.
With 45 points for the next two years, BGMEA President Rubana Huq read out the election manifesto.
As a candidate for the next election Rubana Huq said, "We have highlighted 13 areas in the manifesto, but our major goals remain unchanged."
She said the Forum's major agenda include organising roadshows abroad, increasing license renewal to five years, increasing cash incentive to 10% from 5% and allocating Tk500 crore for SME assistance fund in the next budget.
Other points in the manifesto include increasing facilities for small and medium enterprises, formulating an exit policy, ensuring fair prices and buyers' accountability, enhancing industry efficiency and protection, ramping up the technological efficiency, completing preparations before the LDC graduation, and making the apparel sector sustainable through establishing the labour welfare and forming an efficient BGMEA board.
The Forum also vowed to review the directors' performance every three months. It said there is a plan to reorganise the BGMEA University of Fashion & Technology (BUFT) trustee council.
Rubana said the absence of an exit policy and unemployment fund for workers are the major weaknesses of the industry.
She, however, claimed the current BGMEA board – comprising Forum and Sammilita Parishad – has already made progress on 54 issues during her tenure.
At the programme, BGMEA Vice President Faisal Samad said the poll manifesto is a master plan for the apparel industry, which includes long-term, mid-term and short-term goals.
BGMEA Director Asif Ibrahim moderated the event while its Vice-President (Finance) MA Rahim Feroz, Director Rewan Selim and other candidates were present.
