Garment export picks up with Japan

IT is a ground-breaking achievement with Japan, of sorts. Our garment exports to that country have soared from $ 173.32 million in 2010 to $ 478.48 million  in  2013, topping 18.53 percent year-on-year basis.
An interesting combination of factors has contributed to this spectacular performance. The strategy adopted by Japan in 2008 to reduce dependency on China, the largest garment supplier worldwide, has benefited Bangladesh as something of an alternative destination for Tokyo to knock at. The policy content holds deeper meaning for Bangladeshi garments manufacturers and exporters. It allows for relocation of production units from China to other nations like Bangladesh.
The Japanese market has also become more promising as the people are taking to fast changing fashions which Bangladesh is able to cater for. For instance, demand for denims is very high. To make matters easier for Bangladesh it has duty free access to Japan for its woven products.
Given the rapidly increasing garment exports to Japan, some logistical deficits need to be addressed. If we are serious about gaining a foothold in a market worth more than $ 35 billion a year, we have to turn out a breed of merchandisers with proficiency in Japanese language.
The overarching imperative, however, is that internally we remain politically stable; otherwise, we would never be able to realise the full potential for exports to Japan.