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BGMEA to launch lounge at ZIA for foreign customers

AVIK SANWAR RAHMAN
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) is likely to launch its reception centre at Zia International Airport (ZIA) in the first week of July in an effort to attract foreign customers in the post-multi-fibre agreement (MFA) era.
"We have appealed to the civil aviation and tourism ministry for the reception centre at the airport to help foreign customers at the immigration control. We have already received a room at the airport and are trying to get another, " said BGMEA Vice-President Masud Anwar Parvez.
Although the competition will increase with the phase-out of garment quotas after 2004, it will prompt customers to visit Bangla-
desh, as it is a potential supplier of readymade garments (RMG) in South Asia, he believes.
But the foreign buyers suffer hassles at the immigration control of the airport. Some buyers had to answer questions they have never thought of in other countries.
"Customs officials asked a buyer from Germany why he visited Bangladesh so often. Another European buyer was asked why he took visa from Hong Kong whereas he could have taken it from his country," Parvez said.
The BGMEA plans to post its representatives to the reception centre to relieve the buyers of these hassles.
"Many countries like Vietnam and China have come forward to give extra attention to the foreign customers. Vietnam gives red-carpet reception and China greets whoever
comes with an investment of US$50,000," Parvez said.
"But the president and vicepresident of JC Penny could not get appointment with the commerce ministry in Bangladesh," Parvez said.
JC Penny, a reputed American garment buyer, is currently importing US$250 million in garments from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. JC Penny imported US$45 million in RMG from Bangladesh last year.
"JC Penny treats Bangladesh as a potential 'cut-and-sew' RMG supplier. Bangladesh's export of readymade garments is more than India, Pakistan, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and Sri Lanka's," he said.
The quota regime has bound the companies like JC Penny to import from many countries in the world. But now the companies will be able
to choose a few countries.
"JC Penny that imported RMG from 36 countries will concentrate in five countries and Bangladesh will be one. JC Penny alone will import US$750 million by 2007 from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh," Parvez said.
Many reputed branded companies such as Levies, Wal-Mart, Wrangler and Lee are importing RMG from Bangladesh. Many companies have already opened their liaison offices in Bangladesh to intensify their trade.
"We should have one-stop business service for the buyers at our reception centre but this depends on government's interest in RMG."
The RMG sector has contributed US$5.2 billion in 2003 and will continue to contribute in the post MFA-era, Parvez said.