“The ready made garment industry can double in size if hi-tech machines are used” said Anwar-ul Alam Chowdhury Parvez, president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), yesterday.

“When our workers become familiar with using high tech machines, the amount we produce and its quality would be even better,” he added.

The BGMEA chief made the comments in the inaugural function of the four-day 7th Garments Machinery and Accessories Fair at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in Dhaka yesterday.

RMG exports account for 75 percent of Bangladesh’s exports with the country the third largest RMG exporter to the EU and USA. However speakers at the inauguration said Bangladesh had the potential to take the number one position in the near future if it took advantage of the efficiency gains made possible by high-tech machinery. At present China is the largest RMG exporter.

Other speakers highlighted the success the industry had despite the withdrawal of the quota system in 2005. However they warned that the country still faced great challenges due to technological backwardness.

Fazlul Hoque, president of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) and Dr AKM Moazzem Hussain, director and secretary general of Japan Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, were also present at the programme.

The fair exhibits a range of huge machineries including computer-aided design systems, pattern-making equipment, spreading and cutting machines, over lock and safety stitch machines, single-thread special-stitch machines, weaving machine devices, label printing and numbering machines, single-head and multiple-head embroidery machines, pressing machine accessories, finishing equipment, knitting, non-woven fabric machines etc.

At least 200 foreign companies from 30 countries participating the fair included mainly USA, China, Taiwan, Japan, Thailand, South Korea, Hongkong, Singapore and Germany.