Bangladesh’s ready-made garment (RMG) sector is setting its sights on deeper trade collaboration with South Korea, particularly through increased imports of raw materials and expanded apparel exports. This intent was reinforced during a recent high-level meeting between the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and the South Korean Embassy in Dhaka.
Korea Eyes Bangladesh Supply
BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan Babu underscored the significant potential for South Korean suppliers to expand exports of man-made fibres, advanced textile machinery, chemical dyes, and other key raw materials to Bangladesh. He expressed these views during discussions with South Korean Ambassador Park Young-sik at the BGMEA Complex in Uttara, according to an official BGMEA press release.
“South Korea represents a promising market for Bangladeshi apparel exports, offering significant opportunities for mutually beneficial trade,” stated Babu.
Both parties expressed hope that a future Free Trade Agreement (FTA) or Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) could catalyze stronger bilateral trade, which currently hovers below the $2 billion mark annually. Official data from the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) and Bangladesh Bank reveals that Bangladesh exported goods worth $492 million to South Korea in FY2025, while imports from Korea reached $902 million in FY2023.
Ambassador Park highlighted critical areas for policy improvement, particularly aligning the Export Processing Zones Act 2019 with the Labour Act 2006, to create a more investment-friendly climate. He also stressed the need to improve labour productivity and operational efficiency at the crucial Chattogram Port, a major gateway for Bangladesh’s global trade.
BGMEA leaders advocated for enhanced market intelligence sharing and stronger B2B connections to bridge industries in both countries, facilitating technology transfer and capacity building in Bangladesh’s RMG sector.
The meeting was also attended by BGMEA Vice President Md Shehab Udduza Chowdhury, other industry stakeholders, and South Korean trade representatives, signalling a robust intent to deepen economic ties between the two nations.
