Textile Focus presents Industry Opinion Powered by Eurofins Episode-24 was on the topic- “GSP Facility: Demand of The Industry” Team Textile Focus received feedback from the industry experts.
Abdullah Al Mamun, Director (BTMA) & Abed Textile Processing Mills Ltd.
Currently, there’s a lot of discussion about the benefits of GSP and it’s something we all hope for. In the past, it worked very well for us, but due to weak leadership or communication gaps, we couldn’t sustain it. BTMA has some independent initiatives, we have already communicated with U.S. Cotton and the U.S. Embassy in several places. We approached them in a way that not only Bangladesh benefits but also the USA. Our plan is to import the majority of our raw cotton from the USA instead of countries like Australia, Africa, or neighboring India. As we all know, the USA produces some of the best cotton in the world. Our approach is that if we can import cotton from the USA, use it to manufacture garments, and export them back to the USA, we should be able to receive GSP facilities. We believe that our proposal is quite reasonable, and the U.S. government will soon provide us with this opportunity.
Dr. Mohammad Hasan, Managing Director, Cotton Group
After the Rana Plaza disaster in 2013, the USA withdrew GSP benefits from Bangladesh, citing concerns over labor standards and job security. Although the GSP program wasn’t directly tied to Bangladesh’s RMG sector, its withdrawal had a significant impact on the country’s overall working conditions. In response, two initiatives-Accord and Alliance, were launched to ensure safety in Bangladesh’s RMG sector. Through their inspections, Bangladesh’s RMG industry reached new heights. Today, more than 200 factories in Bangladesh are LEED certified, with 54 of the world’s top 100 LEED-certified factories located in Bangladesh. Despite these achievements, we have not yet regained the GSP status that was lost due to the Rana Plaza disaster. Now, as we move towards a more democratic environment, we are continuously working to secure the GSP benefit again by ensuring factory safety through labor participation and good governance. I am hopeful that, given the strong relationship between the U.S. government and our current caretaker government, we will soon regain the GSP benefits.
Md. Mahabub Khan Himel, Director, Mithela Group
In a country where 84% of export revenue comes from the textile and garment industry, it’s concerning to think about how Bangladesh can continue to prosper if this sector collapses. If we want to develop the nation, the first step is to become a business-friendly country. From what we understand, if our chief advisor’s global recognition can help secure GSP benefits and other international business facilities for our country, it would allow businesspeople to recover and thrive. Additionally, over the past few years, the gas crisis has disrupted nearly 70% of production in most industries. This gas shortage persists and is worsening by the day. If any international legislation or steps could be taken to address this energy crisis and ensure an uninterrupted supply for the next two to three years, I believe it would be a significant gain for business owners.
Dipok Ghosh, Country Managing Director, Eurofins Modern Testing System
Although we are currently going through a critical period in the industry, I am optimistic that we will overcome it very soon. The country’s leadership is wise, and under their guidance, I believe we will swiftly move past the current instability. Eurofins Bangladesh began its journey in 2021, and the achievements we’ve made by 2024 are entirely due to our skilled workforce. As a third-party inspection and testing company, Eurofins Bangladesh is continuously playing a crucial role in the textile and garment industries. We strive to maintain the highest quality standards in products so that international buyers can have confidence in what they are purchasing from us. At the same time, we are working to ensure that local industry and factory owners can successfully continue their businesses and enhance their global reputation. Eurofins is always committed to this mission.
