The government has given special focus on exploiting human resources in every sector of economic growth in an effort to boost the current industralisation rate and take it to a new level. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam made the remarks at the opening session of a gathering of business leaders and foreign mission representatives titled ‘Sustainable Apparel Forum’ held at the International Convention Centre, Bashundhara ICCB in the city on Tuesday.
“We are working to earn citizen’s respect and dignity and ensure their security and safety. Besides, the government is also working hard to make country’s people self-dependent,” the State Minister said. Praising the ability of people to show resilience, particularly in adaptation, Alam said that most people and entrepreneurs continue to show resilience. He also appreciate many people for their innovative approaches in business in trying to attain the key social and economic development goals.
“The journey of Bangladesh RMG should also underline how the growth of an industry can contribute to attainment of right to development, democracy and human rights of individuals,” Shahriar Alam reminded. He said that the industry contributed to attaining ‘equity’ across economic and social groups.
“In the process, our youth workforce has demonstrated their skills, efficiency and determination,” he said adding, “Our entrepreneurs have weathered challenges and ventured into new lands and areas.” He urged foreign investors and concerned business houses to deliver on their commitments within the evolving global RMG supply chain saying their due response is “crucial” to make the entire industry and the supply chains ‘compliant-competitive-caring’.
“Being engaged in the global discourses, I note that within the evolving global RMG supply chain, the global brands also require to deliver on their commitments, at similar pace,” he mentioned. “At the end of the day, manufacturing is a collective enterprise and is about shared responsibility,” he said adding that full appreciation and realization of respective roles and responsibilities can truly sustain global supply chain in an industry as RMG.
This is all the more so in the context of ‘Responsible Business conduct’ that the global stakeholders pledged to, he also mentioned. “Contemporary Bangladesh RMG and textile sector is going through transformation, like other sectors of our economy and society,” he said.
Emergence of fourth industrial technologies has changed many conventional business models of this sector, he said adding that the meaningful exchange of knowledge can make sustainability easier for the manufacturing excellence across the industry. “The industry and the government have been trying to bring in changes, whatever necessary. We have embarked on addressing the gaps, limitations and constraints,” he informed the crowded audience.
“To date, the engagement of Bangladesh has been vindicated by range of policy, institutional and legislative arrangements and measures taken – both by the Government and the industry,” he said. Shahriar Alam said, “From Paris through Geneva, Brussels to Washington, rapidity and sincerity of Bangladesh’s engagements have received global recognition.”
Mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation and former BGMEA President Md Atiqul Islam, Canadian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Benoit Prefonatine, Head of Sustainability - Global Production, H&M Group Pierre Borjesson and Director, BGMEA and Managing Director, Bangladesh Apparel Exchange (BAE) Md Mohiuddin Rubel also spoke on the occasion.
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