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Bangladesh Apparel Sector Strengthens Cotton Sourcing Ecosystem
14 Nov
Summary
- HSBC Bangladesh CEO moderates discussion on cotton supply chain
- BGMEA president highlights importance of optimizing US cotton benefits
- Global trade dynamics drive need for stronger cotton value chain partnerships
On November 14, 2025, HSBC Bangladesh hosted a discussion titled 'Cotton Ecosystem: Strengthening Bangladesh's Apparel Value Chain.' The event was moderated by the bank's CEO, Md Mahbub ur Rahman, and attended by representatives from the Cotton Council International, six US cotton exporters, as well as the president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), Mahmud Hasan Khan.
The discussion examined the global and US cotton landscape, with a focus on navigating cotton trade dynamics and strengthening supply chain resilience. BGMEA president Mahmud Hasan Khan highlighted the vital importance of optimizing the benefits of US cotton content for the continued growth of Bangladesh's apparel industry. HSBC's CEO Rahman pointed out that cotton is the heart of Bangladesh's $40 billion fashion industry, and as global trade dynamics shift, partnership and coordination across the value chain have never been more crucial.
Cargill Cotton's senior director of sustainability and brand engagement, Krista Rickman, expressed encouragement at the engagement from mills, garment manufacturers, financial institutions, and government leaders in the roundtable discussion. The event aimed to build stronger linkages and collaborative frameworks to ensure traceability, flexibility, and sustainability in cotton sourcing, which is particularly important given that Bangladesh is the world's largest cotton importer.
