Bangladesh's ready-made garment (RMG) industry has seen robust growth in exports to Japan, crossing the billion-dollar mark during the first nine months of the current fiscal year, according to official data.
The growth is attributed to entrepreneurs' relentless efforts to meet the Japanese standard and the government's policy support, as well as Japan's "China-plus policy" and relaxation in its rules of origin.
Bangladesh's locally-made knit and woven items have been enjoying a duty-free facility in the Japanese market since April 2011 and April 2014, respectively.
Apparel exports to Japan doubled in the last decade, despite a decline for two consecutive fiscal years beginning in 2019-20. This year, Bangladesh exported apparel items worth $1.22 billion to Japan, marking a 43.79% growth during the July-March period.
Experts credit the growth to the country's ability to produce quality products and offer competitive prices, as well as Japan's cautious and quality-focused buyers. They expect shipments to Japan to rise further in the coming months.
