Bangladesh and India need to strengthen cooperation in logistics and trade facilitation to build an integrated textile and apparel supply chain and enhance their competitiveness in the global market, speakers said at a seminar in Dhaka on Thursday.
The special seminar titled “Advancing Bangladesh-India Textile Value Chains through Seamless Logistics and Trade Facilitation” was held at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Centre (BCFEC) in Purbachal.
The India-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IBCCI), in association with Conference & Exhibition Management Services (CEMS-Global), organised the seminar as part of the ongoing Textile Series of Exhibitions.
Delivering the keynote paper, Sparrow Group Managing Director Mustazirul Shovon Islam said Bangladesh needs to increase the production of value-added and higher-value products to sustain its leadership in the global apparel market.
“This requires high-quality textiles, and India is one of the most accessible and important sources for these raw materials,” he said.
Rather than focusing on how much either country gains or loses from bilateral trade, the two countries should explore ways to work together, he said, proposing the guiding principle: “One Supply Chain, Two Countries and One Global Ambition.”
He said stronger cooperation could help create an integrated regional textile and apparel supply chain, enabling both Bangladesh and India to improve their competitiveness in the global market.
IBCCI Vice-President Amit Kumar Tiwari, IBCCI directors AKM Saifur Rahman, ATM Altaf Hossain Lotus and Amit Kumar, who is also Country Head of State Bank of India, and Invest Bangladesh Deputy Director Md Faizur Rabbee spoke at the seminar.
The speakers stressed the need to improve logistics systems, streamline customs procedures and facilitate cross-border movement to develop stronger and more efficient textile and apparel supply chains between the two countries.
They said reducing trade and logistics barriers could enhance the competitiveness of both Bangladesh and India in the global textile market.
The seminar was held alongside three international exhibitions — the 25th Textech Bangladesh 2026 International Expo, 26th Dhaka International Yarn and Fabric Show 2026 – Summer Edition, and 53rd Dye+Chem Bangladesh 2026 International Expo — which are taking place at BCFEC from 2 to 5 September.
According to the organisers, around 1,475 companies from 37 countries are participating in the exhibitions across more than 2,245 booths and pavilions. More than 16,000 business visitors are expected to attend.
The exhibitions are showcasing textile and apparel machinery, yarn, fabrics, trims, accessories, dyestuffs, chemicals and related technologies.
Five international seminars are being held alongside the exhibitions, while a Digital Transformation Zone is showcasing technologies including enterprise resource planning (ERP), automation, cloud systems, artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT) and digital machinery.
