Low costs luring Indian textile makers to Bangladesh

Many Indian garment makers have shifted base or opened new units in neighbouring Bangladesh to take advantage of low labour cost and duty concessions on exports to US and European markets.

"Labour cost in Bangladesh is almost one-third of that in India. Average monthly labour cost in India is over Rs.7,000 per person, while it is just around Rs.2,500 in Bangladesh," said D.K. Nair, secretary general of the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry.

"More than 35 Indian textile firms have opened factories in Bangladesh so far, most of them in the recent months," Nair, who oversees the apex industry body for the $55-billion Indian textile industry, said.