Survey of Export-Oriented RMG Factories to Assess Productivity Levels and Identify Target Beneficiaries for Development Interventions

The assignment involved assessing productivity levels in export-oriented ready-made garment (RMG) factories in Bangladesh for the IFC South Asia Enterprise Development Facility (SEDF), part of the World Bank Group. The study aimed to establish productivity benchmarks for individual factories and identify enterprises that could benefit from targeted development interventions to improve operational performance and competitiveness.

YC conducted a desk review of existing research and studies on Bangladesh’s RMG industry to establish the background for the assessment. Based on the review, the team developed a structured questionnaire to collect primary data and evaluate factory-level productivity and operational conditions.

The research involved interviews with entrepreneurs, top management, senior officials, and factory workers to gather information on production processes, management practices, and productivity-related challenges. The collected data provided insights into variations in productivity levels and potential areas for improvement across the surveyed enterprises.

YC processed and analyzed the survey data using statistical analysis tools to establish productivity benchmarks and assess the performance of individual factories. This analysis helped identify target RMG enterprises for SEDF’s development interventions, with the objective of improving productivity and strengthening industry competitiveness.

Following the analysis, YC prepared a draft report and circulated it among key stakeholders for feedback and observations. The report was subsequently finalized and submitted to IFC-SEDF, providing a basis for identifying beneficiary enterprises and designing targeted productivity improvement interventions in the RMG sector.

The assignment was carried out by M. Zakir Hossain as Team Leader and Md. Sazid Hossain as Associate. The study covered export-oriented RMG factories in Dhaka and Chittagong and focused on establishing productivity benchmarks to support evidence-based development planning.

Assignment Details
Client: IFC South Asia Enterprise Development Facility (SEDF), World Bank Group
Project Location: Dhaka and Chittagong, Bangladesh
Duration: June–August 2002 (reported assignment period: 1 month; dates require verification)
Total Staff-Months: 1
Senior Professional Staff: M. Zakir Hossain (Team Leader) and Md. Sazid Hossain (Associate)
Key Deliverable: A finalized productivity assessment report identifying target RMG enterprises and informing the design of development interventions.