Textile Times

10/08/2026

Govt to Set Up 400-Acre SME Industrial Park in Bogura

The Bangladesh government plans to establish a nearly 400-acre SME industrial park in Fapor, Bogura, Commerce, Industries, and Textiles and Jute Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir said.

Initial development work is expected to begin this winter. The park will focus on strengthening SMEs and light engineering industries in the region.

The government also plans to provide low-interest financing, easier access to gas and electricity, technical training, skilled manpower and business support for entrepreneurs.

10/08/2026

Digital Loyalty Platform Meed Enters Bangladesh

Digital loyalty platform Meed is set to launch in Bangladesh through local partner Digibox, targeting small businesses such as cafés, restaurants, salons, gyms and retail shops.

Meed allows businesses to run loyalty programs without requiring customers to download a separate app. Its features include Apple Wallet and Google Wallet integration, digital stamp cards, QR and NFC registration, and AI-powered receipt scanning.

The partnership will see Meed provide the technology while Digibox will lead local market expansion, localization and merchant acquisition. The companies have already started onboarding early businesses in Bangladesh.

10/08/2026

BGMEA Football Cup Set for December 2026

The BGMEA Football Cup is scheduled to take place in December 2026, bringing together Bangladesh’s apparel industry through sportsmanship, teamwork and camaraderie.

The announcement was made at a meeting of the BGMEA Sports Committee at the BGMEA Complex, where preparations and arrangements for the tournament were discussed.

10/08/2026

Elon Musk’s Wealth Surges Past $800 Billion Again as SpaceX Shares Rally

Elon Musk’s net worth has climbed back above $800 billion, reaching $823.6 billion, after SpaceX shares rose 11.7% to $129. His wealth has increased by more than $100 billion in less than two weeks.

SpaceX reported $7.8 billion in quarterly revenue, while its net loss narrowed to $541 million. Musk owns about 38% of SpaceX, making his wealth highly sensitive to the company’s share price.

09/08/2026

Bangladesh Economy Gains Momentum in July Despite Energy Crisis

Bangladesh’s economy gained momentum in July despite a severe energy crisis, with the manufacturing sector leading a strong recovery while agriculture and services continued to expand.

The country’s Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose 4.9 points to 57.8 in July, up from 52.9 in June. A PMI reading above 50 indicates economic expansion, while a reading below 50 signals contraction.

The manufacturing sector made the biggest contribution to the improvement. Its PMI jumped 16.6 points to 65.4, with expansion recorded in new orders, new export orders, production, input purchases, imports, employment and supplier deliveries.

The services sector also continued its expansion for the 22nd consecutive month, with its PMI rising 1.4 points to 56.0. Agriculture remained in expansion for the 11th consecutive month, although its PMI declined to 55.2 from 65.8 in June.

The construction sector remained in contraction, with its PMI standing at 49.3. However, this was an improvement of 9.1 points from the previous month, indicating that the pace of contraction has eased.

The PMI is jointly prepared by the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) and Policy Exchange Bangladesh based on responses from executives of 400 private-sector companies across agriculture, construction, manufacturing and services.

Policy Exchange Bangladesh Chairman and CEO M Masrur Reaz said the July PMI indicates a strengthening economy, driven primarily by a sharp recovery in manufacturing and continued expansion in agriculture and services. However, the construction sector remains a concern despite signs of improvement.

09/08/2026

09/08/2026

Bangladesh Leads in Green Factories, but Financial Benefits Remain Elusive

Bangladesh has emerged as a global leader in green garment manufacturing, but apparel entrepreneurs are still struggling to receive higher prices for their investments in environmentally friendly factories.

Currently, 52 of the world’s top 100 LEED-certified factories are located in Bangladesh. The country has 284 LEED-certified garment factories, including 121 with Platinum and 144 with Gold ratings.

However, building a green factory requires substantial additional investment. Depending on the size and standards, construction costs can range from around $8 million to $15 million—20% to 30% higher than those of conventional factories. Investments are required for energy-efficient buildings, water recycling, waste management, ventilation and renewable energy systems.

Entrepreneurs had expected buyers to offer a premium for such investments, but that has largely not happened. Industry leaders say LEED certification has improved Bangladesh’s image and helped manufacturers gain access to major international brands, but it has not necessarily translated into higher product prices.

At the same time, buyers are increasingly looking beyond certifications. They are demanding verifiable data on actual energy and water consumption, waste management and overall environmental performance.

Industry experts believe that green investments can still generate long-term financial benefits through lower energy and water consumption, improved resource efficiency and higher productivity.

The changing global market means that certification alone may no longer be enough. For Bangladesh’s apparel sector, demonstrating measurable sustainability performance and transparent data is becoming increasingly important to remain competitive in international markets.

09/08/2026

Bangladesh prioritizes policy stability to attract foreign investment

Bangladesh is emphasizing long-term policy stability, tax certainty and business-friendly reforms to restore investor confidence and attract more foreign investment.

Under the FY2026–27 budget, the government has introduced measures to simplify business procedures, extend tax benefits, promote export diversification and support sectors such as renewable energy, electric vehicles, pharmaceuticals and technology.

The government has also eased procedures for repatriating foreign investors’ capital and profits. However, gas and power shortages remain major challenges to investment, while effective implementation of the announced policies will be crucial to attracting new investment.

09/08/2026

LDC Graduation: Bangladesh Steps Up Trade Preparations

Bangladesh is intensifying preparations to tackle the trade challenges following its graduation from the LDC category. The government is pursuing FTAs, CEPAs and EPAs with major trading partners to retain preferential market access and strengthen export competitiveness.

Bangladesh has already signed CEPAs with South Korea and an EPA with Japan, while negotiations are underway with the EU, UAE, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and China. The government also plans to begin formal FTA negotiations with RCEP and the European Union soon.

09/08/2026

Foreign Banks Handle Nearly One-Fifth of Bangladesh’s Export Earnings

Foreign banks operating in Bangladesh handled 18.8% of the country’s export proceeds in July–December 2025, according to Bangladesh Bank data.

The nine foreign commercial banks operating in the country processed $4.12 billion in export bills, up from $3.73 billion a year earlier. They also handled 13.1% of total imports during the period.

However, foreign banks’ lending declined 11.3% in 2025 to Tk 46,122 crore. Their combined net profit rose to Tk 3,738 crore in the second half of 2025.