Amidst rising fear amongst the garment makers of Bangladesh on the impact of Coronavirus breakout in China – a major source of raw materials for the country’s readymade garment sector – the Government has assured the garment makers to assess the impact of it on the garment sector as well as other industries.
“We do not have any information about specific impact on exports. However, there is an apprehension there could be some. We are observing everything. Our Secretary has met with the stakeholders. We have asked them to file a report quickly … We would get a clear picture shortly. We would then take steps accordingly,” assured Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi.
The Minister was interacting with the press after a special meeting with representatives of Bangladesh Bank, National Board of Revenue (NBR), Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce & Industries (FBCCI), Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEI) at the Commerce Ministry recently.
The Minister reportedly also asked the trade bodies to submit reports on the impact of Coronavirus breakout on the respective industries.
“We have to take experts’ opinion whether imported Chinese cloths could contain Coronavirus. If no, buyers would have no reservations … There is scarcity of information globally,” further maintained the Commerce Minister, adding, “It is tough for us to find any alternative overnight … However, we would try to assess the severity of the situation and then think of alternatives.”
