The Bangladesh Apparel Summit, held in Melbourne, Australia on 18th July 2023, was a landmark event that marked a new era of collaboration between the apparel manufacturing industries of Bangladesh and Australian retailers.
The summit brought together a diverse range of stakeholders, including buyers, retailers, suppliers, consumers, development partners, and Australian government policymakers. This provided a unique opportunity for participants to share ideas and information, and to build relationships that will help to strengthen the apparel supply chain between the two countries.
One of the highlights of the summit was the opening plenary, which featured keynote speeches from Faruque Hassan, President of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), and Antony Shaw, CEO of HSBC Australia. Mr. Hassan spoke about the progress that Bangladesh has made in recent years in terms of improving workplace safety and environmental sustainability. He also highlighted the country’s competitive advantage in terms of cost, quality, and speed to market. Mr. Shaw spoke about the opportunities for Australian retailers to partner with Bangladeshi apparel manufacturers in order to meet the growing demand for sustainable fashion.
The summit also featured two panel discussions. The first panel discussion, titled “Trade between Australia and Bangladesh – Charting the path for next decade,” focused on the future of the apparel trade between the two countries. The second panel discussion, titled “Sustainability matters – ESG collaborations to shape the future of fashion,” explored the role of sustainability in the apparel industry.
The Bangladesh Apparel Summit was a valuable event that helped to foster collaboration and strengthen the bonds between the apparel manufacturing industries of Bangladesh and Australian retailers. The summit is expected to have a positive impact on the apparel trade between the two countries, and it is likely to lead to new partnerships and opportunities for growth.
In addition to the summit, a number of other events were held in Melbourne to promote Bangladeshi apparel. These events included a fashion show, a trade fair, and a networking reception. The events were well-attended by Australian retailers and buyers, and they helped to raise awareness of the quality and value of Bangladeshi apparel.
The Bangladesh Apparel Summit was a major success, and it is a sign of the growing importance of the Bangladesh apparel industry in the global market. The summit is expected to have a positive impact on the apparel trade between Bangladesh and Australia, and it is likely to lead to new partnerships and opportunities for growth.
