Inaugurating a training programme under the human development scheme, commerce secretary said quality will be the key word in the post-MFA era after 2004.

Suhel Ahmed said this type of training will help Bangladesh increase the quality of readymade garments to compete with China, Pakistan, India and other competitors.

The secretary also urged owners of the small garment factories to merge their units for better performance.

The project titled 'Quality and Skill Development Project (SQDP)' will cover three major areas -- productivity management, quality management and compliance norms.

In the first phase of the two-year training programme, a total of five different organisations will conduct 26 courses, each will consist 25-30 students, in four months. Later, the number of courses will increase as per demand.

The five organisations are BGMEA Institute of Fashion and Technology (BIFT), Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), College of Textile Technology, Young Consultants, and Briddhi.

The training co-ordinated by the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) formally began with the launching of two short courses on 'Managing Quality in Garment Industry' and 'Productivity Calculation in Knitwear Industry'. BIFT is conducting these courses.

Shahabuddin Mohammmad, vice-chairman of the EPB, and Alamgir Kabir, director of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), also spoke at the inaugural function.