Bangladesh, a South Asian country with a population of approximately 164 million, has an economy traditionally dependent on agriculture. However, the ready-made garments (RMG) sector has emerged as the country’s largest foreign currency earner. This industry not only contributes significantly to the GDP but also provides employment for about 4.2 million people, most of whom are young, urbanizing workers, with a significant majority being women.

For the past 30 years, the garment manufacturing sector in Bangladesh has been a crucial source of foreign currency earnings, despite the country’s agricultural base. Currently, Bangladesh produces more than $5 billion worth of goods annually through garment exports, with nearly 3 million workers employed in the industry, 80% of whom are women.

In today’s global economy, production and supply chains are increasingly managed with an emphasis on developing countries. This shift is primarily driven by the need to reduce costs and increase output. Companies have discovered that relocating manufacturing to countries with lower labor and production costs is an effective strategy. This trend has not only boosted the economies of developing nations but has also enhanced the financial standing of developed countries.