"Saarc cumulation is the only way to increase our export to EU again," he said at the opening ceremony of Batexpo-2005 in Dhaka.

The BGMEA chief made the remarks as Bangladesh's woven garment exports to the EU market.

In January to June 2004, $ 998.70 million worth of exports went to the EU market, which came down to $ 802.84 million in January to June 2005. The demand for woven garments is about 65 percent in the world market.

The woven apparel export also suffered as backward linkages are very insufficient.

Huq also urged the government to consider their plea for central bonded warehouse to survive the competition in terms of lead-time.