Lessons from the east : decoding the rise of Bangladesh's apparel sector

"The report compares two countries, Bangladesh and Pakistan, in order to understand how Bangladesh has been able to thrive in the global apparel market as compared to Pakistan, despite it being a smaller country. In 2024, Bangladesh’s GDP growth was 4.27%, significantly higher than Pakistan’s GDP growth which was then 2.50%. Bangladesh has emerged as a global manufacturer in apparel manufacturing. This has driven substantial export growth and job creation. Its manufacturing sector has become an anchor of the country’s growth by largely contributing to a positive trade balance and attracting foreign direct investment (FDI). "

Study Objectives: "This study aims to compare and analyze the export and import performance of the apparel sectors of Pakistan and Bangladesh to understand the structural and policy-driven differences between the two. It also seeks to evaluate the impact of market access on Bangladesh’s global apparel trade performance, particularly its rise to becoming the world’s second-largest apparel exporter."