Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi on Saturday stressed the need for exploring new markets for Bangladesh's RMG sector  to overcome the crisis created  by the coronavirus pandemic.

"Bangladesh has to look for new markets including in the neighbouring countries for its diversified products including RMG that will help the country to recover the crisis. The garment sector overcame the effects of the first wave of the COVID-19 to some extent but we've started to feel the impact following the 2nd wave," the minister at a virtual dialogue.   

Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) organised the dialogue on "Recovery of the Apparels Sectors from the COVID-19 Crisis: Is a Value Chain based Solution Possible?" in partnership with Southern Voice and Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka (IPS) was the study partner.

Tipu Munshi said the government is ready to assist further the RGM sector to offset the losses. "We have to see the interest of all people including manufacturers, workers and buyer."  

Harry Verweij, Dutch Ambassador to Bangladesh said their government urged companies not to cancel order of Bangladesh's RMG products.

"Many companies also followed the government's directives and purchased Bangladesh's products amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Our government also took many positive initiatives as well," he said.

Professor Mustafizur Rahman, Distinguished Fellow of CPD, moderated the session while its Research Director Dr Khondaker Golam Moazzem read out the keynote presentation.