Backward Linkages in the Ready Made Garment Industry of Bangladesh: Appraisal and Policy Implications

In global apparel markets, international buyers place an order with competitive pricing along with shortest possible lead time. For Bangladesh, lead time is fast emerging as a serious bottleneck. Backward linkages are playing major part of a garment industry to reduce lead time and offer competitive price in the international market. It is inevitable that one of the major issues of success in readymade garment (RMG) industry in Bangladesh must depend on backward linkage conditions, support, and strategy formulation. This paper briefly discusses the present condition of backward integration, needs for further development within respect to Post Multi-fiber Arrangement (MFA) situation in the RMG industry in Bangladesh. This paper will focus on policy implication on backward Linkage sub-sectors in respect of free trade apparel market.