SGS has opened another consumer testing laboratory in Chittagong to cater to the growing business in the region. This new facility of SGS is equipped with the state-of-the-art facilities to provide quality testing services for companies complying with international standards and regulations. The presence of SGS here will contribute to and strengthen the local apparel industry’s ability to attain a global standard and acceptability.
The new laboratory will help the local apparel market to ensure sustainable growth by providing quality testing, inspection and audits services, training and technical consultancy to meet CPSIA, REACH and other testing related regulations for exporting to the EU and US markets. According to Pradit Young Pan Chai, Asia Pacific Regional Manager of SGS, both physical and chemical tests will be performed in the Chittagong lab and SGS has plans to make more strategic expansion to include testing and processing for the leather and footwear industry.
[bleft]The most recent initiative taken by SGS is to conduct various basic to advance programs and special trainings on ways to deal with fire. Apart from working on their regular audits, Blue Sign has also become a part of SGS. [/bleft]
Pleased with SGS presence in the port city of Chittagong, Ariel Miranda, Managing Director, SGS Bangladesh said, “It is in line with our Consumer Testing Service strategy to increase SGS’s geographical footprint in Bangladesh. We will leverage our Chittagong laboratory within our Bangladesh and global network, and then further expand our service offerings in Chittagong.”
“The Chittagong Laboratory will be a role model in Consumer Testing Laboratories due to its quality, safety, and fully equipped support in Chittagong,” says Rajendran Ramasamy, Business Manager, CTS, SGS Bangladesh who believes that as consumers are growing and becoming increasingly conscious of how and where their products are being made, and in turn buyers are demanding manufacturers to imbibe social and environmental responsibilities, it has proved to be one of the main reasons for increasing operational area of services for SGS along with extending boundaries beyond Dhaka.
The inauguration ceremony, attended by over 150 participants saw management representatives from the SGS Group, BGMEA members, Chittagong Port Authority, Custom House, BSTI, BEPZA, and Bangladesh Environmental Authority as well as international and national experts and professionals come together on a common platform. The Swiss Ambassador to Bangladesh, Urs Herren, who was also present at the inauguration, was appreciative of SGS’s initiative of establishing such a lab to promote the prospects of Chittagong.
Speaking on the importance of SGS lab in Chittagong, BGMEA first Vice-President Nasir Uddin Chowdhury said that the laboratory will help the local apparel market ensure sustainable growth by providing quality testing services. “The lab will play a vital role in developing business in the port city as well as in the country, which goes very well with the initiatives of the Bangladesh Government, who is also encouraging the apparel industry in this port city by setting up new Export Processing Zones,” concluded Chowdhury.
