Tipu seeks duty free cotton from USA

Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha . Dhaka | Published: 22:18, Jan 20,2023

 
 

Commerce minister Tipu Munshi speaks as chief guest at the ‘4th Global Cotton Summit Bangladesh-2023’ organised by Bangladesh Cotton Association in collaboration with Bangladesh Textile Mills Association at the Hotel Radisson Blue Water Garden in the capital Dhaka on Friday. — PID photo

Commerce minister Tipu Munshi on Friday sought duty free benefits from the United States of America in importing cotton.

‘Bangladesh is the second largest exporter of ready-made garments in the world. About 82 per cent of Bangladesh's total exports come from RMG. The USA is a major cotton producer. Every year, Bangladesh imports a huge amount of cotton from different countries for use in garment factories. If the USA grants Bangladesh duty-free trade facilities for the import of cotton for use in RMG factories, it will benefit our industry,’ he said.


Tipu said this while speaking as chief guest at the ‘4th Global Cotton Summit Bangladesh-2023’ organised by Bangladesh Cotton Association in collaboration with Bangladesh Textile Mills Association at the Hotel Radisson Blue Water Garden in the city, said a press release.

In his speech, Tipu said that Bangladesh needed nine million belts of cotton to export RMG to the world market.

Out of this, only 1,50,000 belts of cotton are produced in the country and the production is about 1.6 per cent of the total demand, he added.

He said, ‘Bangladesh has to import the remaining huge amount of cotton from different countries. Bangladesh is making efforts to increase cotton production in the country. More efforts will be made in the coming days.’

Tipu mentioned that if Bangladesh wants to export RMG worth $100 billion in the next two years, a huge amount of cotton will be required.

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