Japan keen to boost imports of high-value apparel from Bangladesh while logistics a key hurdle
Despite the positive outlook, the JTIA delegation identified logistical bottlenecks as a major concern in expanding apparel imports from Bangladesh
Japanese apparel importers are now considering Bangladesh as a key sourcing destination for high-value and fashionable garments, as the country's capacity in producing such items continues to improve.
Representatives of the Japan Textile Importers Association (JTIA) expressed its interest during a meeting with BGMEA leaders yesterday in the capital's Uttara, according to a press release by the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).
"With Bangladesh's remarkable progress in producing high-quality products, Japanese buyers now have confidence in Bangladesh as a sourcing hub for high-value and fashionable apparel," the BGMEA quoted the delegation as saying in the release.
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Despite the positive outlook, the JTIA delegation identified logistical bottlenecks as a major concern in expanding apparel imports from Bangladesh.
"Japanese buyers prioritise imports within the shortest possible lead time. To reduce lead time, they suggested further simplifying Bangladesh's customs procedures and improving operational efficiency at Chattogram Port," the release said.
The delegation also praised Bangladesh's apparel industry for its growth and ongoing efforts to ensure social and environmental compliance, as well as workers' safety and welfare.
Representatives from MN Inter-Fashion Limited, Kowa Company, AIT Corporation, and several other Japan-based companies, along with JTIA officials, were also present at the meeting.
Mahmud Hasan Khan Babu, president of BGMEA, said, "Bangladesh's garment industry is now strategically focusing on market diversification, and Japan is a highly important and promising market for us."
"The industry is working with dedication to shift its product range from basic cotton-based items to synthetic and technical textiles, thereby moving into the high-value apparel segment," he added.
The BGMEA president also urged the Japanese government, through JTIA, to continue Bangladesh's duty-free market access even after its graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status in 2026 to sustain Bangladesh's export competitiveness in that market.
He expressed the view that such trade benefits could be ensured through a mutually beneficial framework, such as an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) or a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA).
