CEBAI to boost Bangladesh RMG sector along value chain

The Centre of Excellence for the Bangladesh Apparel Industries (CEBAI) will help the RMG sector compete on the basis of productivity and quality rather than low cost, according to ILO Country Director Srinivas Reddy.

Speaking at the CEBAI inauguration, 21 April, Mr Reddy said, “Although prospects in the sector are bright, the lack of appropriate skills remains a major challenge for the industry and millions of garment workers alike. The industry has enormous scope to improve productivity through skills development. By doing so, it will be able to truly meet its potential, move further up the value chain and away from competing on the basis low prices alone.
 
“The newly formed Center of Excellence will play an important role in this respect by providing skills development programs that are demand driven and market responsive. By training workers to nationally recognized standards it will also help them to earn higher wages.”
 
Based in Ashulia, a ready-made garment (RMG) cluster area close to Dhaka, the Centre of Excellence will help meet the need for a skilled labour force in the RMG sector by providing competency-based training in areas where demand from industry is greatest. It will also undertake research on RMG related areas and act as an industry think tank.
 
A number of dignitaries addressed the occasion. The launching was jointly organized by BGMEA and ILO where CEBAI logo was unveiled by Mr. Tofail Ahmed, Honourable Commerce Minister for Bangladesh.
 
The Centre of Excellence is an initiative supported by the International Labour Organization (ILO), Government of Sweden, leading Swedish fashion retailer Hennes and Mauritz (H&M) and the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).