To boost export, quality of products is a key barometer and for quality, training has no substitute, they said while addressing the inaugural function of a three-day training course on Maintenance Technology of Industrial Sewing Machines at a city hotel.

The speakers called for appropriate development of human resources by upgrading their skills and knowledge. Technically skilled people involved in production process could produce quality goods of international standard for their easy penetration into today's highly competitive market.

Association for Overseas Technical Scholarship (AOTS) of Japan organised the course in cooperation with Yamato Sewing Machine Manufacturing Co. Ltd Japan and Yamato Singapore.

Hideo Ueno of the Japan-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JBCCI) attended the opening function as the chief guest while Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) representative in Dhaka Tomoihiro Kinomoto was the special guest.

Kinomoto said Bangladesh has stepped into the second year of quota free era witnessing less severe impact on the garments sector as well as on the whole national economy. Bangladesh, he said, has been able to position itself in the global apparel market as a reliable source of cheap garments.