The Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) held a high-level meeting with David Pine on Thursday at the BKMEA Dhaka office to explore new opportunities for strengthening bilateral trade cooperation between Bangladesh and New Zealand, particularly in the knitwear and apparel sector.
The meeting, held at 3:00 PM, was attended by BKMEA President Mohammad Hatem, Senior Vice President Amal Podder, Director M. Ishfaq Ahsan, along with representatives from the BKMEA Secretariat.
During the discussion, both sides emphasized the importance of enhancing trade relations and creating stronger market access for Bangladeshi knitwear products in New Zealand. BKMEA highlighted Bangladesh’s growing capabilities in sustainable apparel manufacturing, product diversification, and value-added knitwear production, while also identifying the need for strategic collaboration to overcome market-entry challenges and improve trade competitiveness.
The talks also focused on strengthening connections between buyers, suppliers, and industry stakeholders from both countries through international trade expos, business networking events, symposiums, and industry conferences.
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BKMEA leaders noted that such initiatives could play a vital role in expanding commercial partnerships and increasing the visibility of Bangladeshi apparel products in the Oceania market.
A significant part of the discussion centered on future cooperation in fashion technology, innovation, and skills development. BKMEA expressed interest in educational and technical training support from New Zealand aimed at helping Bangladeshi entrepreneurs and industry professionals adapt to rapidly evolving global fashion and manufacturing trends.
The association also explored the possibility of funded training and academic initiatives in areas such as advanced fashion technology, textile innovation, research and development, sustainability practices, and diversified product manufacturing.
Industry leaders believe such collaboration could contribute to long-term capacity building and help Bangladesh strengthen its position in the global apparel supply chain.
Both BKMEA and the New Zealand High Commission expressed optimism about future partnerships and reaffirmed their commitment to promoting stronger economic engagement, trade expansion, and industrial cooperation between the two countries.
