Dhaka: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday asked all concerned to expand Bangladesh's export market with diversified products in the world market and thus boost export earnings.  

"We've to diversify our products and expand our market for boosting our export earnings alongside learning how to add value to products and increase the RMG share," she said.

The Prime Minister said this while inaugurating the second edition of 'Dhaka Apparel Summit 2017' at a city hotel.

Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) in collaboration with Bangladesh Apparel Exchange (BAE) organized the event.

The Prime Minister pointed that the list of export items of the country is not that much long as it is heavily RMG dependent one, while Bangladeshis products' export destinations are also limited.

Sheikh Hasina urged the exporters to take necessary initiatives in this regard as the government is ready to extend all-out support to boost the export.

About the government's initiative to improve the working atmosphere in the RMG sector, she said a number of measures have been taken at international level to make the RMG sector safe. Under the initiative, 3,869 factories have been inspected.

"Among those, faults have been found in only 39 factories and they were shut down, and the remaining factories are being renovated to improve their safety," she said.

But, she said, huge funds are needed for overhauling these factories. "Various brands and buyers can come forward to assist the factory owners, and the government will provide its support."

Hasina mentioned that the Readymade Garments of Bangladesh is now a role model in the world. The BGMEA, the government, domestic and international organisations and development partners--all together are working towards building a safe and sustainable RMG sector, she added.

The Prime Minister said although Bangladesh stands at the second position in the RMG export market, its share is only 5.1 percent in the sector. "We've to work on how to increase our share in the world market. We've to formulate short-, medium- and long-term plan in this regard."   

The inaugural session was addressed, among others, by Finance Minister AMA Muhith, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, State Minister for Labour and Employment Ministry Mujibur Huq, the EU Ambassador to Bangladesh Pierre Mayaudon, BGMEA President Siddiqu Rahman and BGMEA First Vice President Mainuddin Ahmed.

The Prime Minister regretted that despite having the rights to get duty-free access of Bangladesh's RMGs to the developed nations, only the USA is not allowing duty-free access.

She assured the BGMEA leaders of providing necessary cooperation in achieving their target and said the power generation capacity would be increased to 24,000 megawatt by 2021 and an LNG terminal would be set up to meet the growing demand of gas while the work is underway to establish Special Economic Zones across the country.

Two such Economic Zones -- one in Dhaka and other in Chittagong -- will be earmarked for BGMEA along with a plan to turn the Dhaka-Chittagong highway into a 6-lane one, she said.

Hasina also elaborated massive steps taken by her government to improve employers-workers relation and said, steps are also underway to ensure legal rights of the workers and workers' welfare-oriented programmes like formation of Labour Welfare Foundation and Welfare Fund for the workers in the export-oriented industries. 

Besides, her government also strengthened the Department of Inspection of Factories and Establishment for improving the environment of factories and ensuring their safety, she said.

Measures have also been taken to strengthen the Minimum Wage Commission apart from granting right to do union at EPZs, amendment of labour laws and issuance of labour rules for protecting workers rights, she added.