DHAKA — U.S. Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T. Christensen and Labor Attaché Leena Khan met with Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) Executive Chairman Major General Abul Kalam Mohammad Ziaur Rahman to discuss ways to strengthen Bangladesh-U.S. relations through high labor standards.

The meeting, held in Dhaka on Monday, focused on the importance of maintaining strong labor standards as a foundation for sustainable economic growth, improved working conditions and a stronger business environment in Bangladesh. According to the U.S. Embassy, the discussions highlighted how high labor standards can benefit workers and businesses while contributing to long-term economic growth in both countries.

The meeting also underscored the importance of continued cooperation between Bangladesh and the United States on labor issues as the two countries seek to deepen their broader economic and commercial relationship. High labor standards are increasingly important to Bangladesh’s export-oriented industries, particularly the ready-made garment sector, which remains heavily dependent on access to major international markets.

Improving workplace safety, protecting workers’ rights and ensuring compliance with internationally recognized labor standards can also help strengthen the competitiveness of Bangladeshi businesses and attract greater foreign investment. The discussions between the U.S. delegation and BEPZA leadership come at a time when Bangladesh is seeking to further modernize its export-processing zones and improve the overall investment environment.

BEPZA oversees the country’s export processing zones, which host domestic and foreign-invested companies engaged in export-oriented manufacturing and employ a large workforce. The U.S. side has repeatedly emphasized labor rights and workplace standards as important elements of the broader Bangladesh-U.S. trade and economic relationship. Ambassador Christensen and Labor Attaché Leena Khan’s meeting with the BEPZA executive chairman reflects Washington’s continued engagement with Bangladeshi authorities on labor issues and economic cooperation.

Both sides emphasized the potential for stronger cooperation to create a more favorable environment for workers and businesses while supporting sustainable and mutually beneficial economic growth. The meeting is expected to contribute to ongoing efforts to deepen Bangladesh-U.S. economic ties through improved labor practices, stronger worker protections and a more competitive investment environment.

DHAKA — U.S. Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T. Christensen inaugurated a new Smart Warehouse of Paxar Bangladesh Limited, a subsidiary of global materials science and manufacturing company Avery Dennison, at the Dhaka Export Processing Zone (DEPZ) in Savar on Monday. The technology-driven facility is designed to strengthen supply-chain efficiency and improve the speed and accuracy of supplying labels and other products to Bangladesh’s ready-made garment and footwear industries.

The 830-square-metre warehouse has been integrated with Paxar Bangladesh’s existing operations and can accommodate approximately 25,000 cartons at a time. Receiving, storage, order picking, packing and dispatch operations will be managed through digital and automated technologies.

The new facility is part of Avery Dennison’s broader Manufacturing 4.0 initiative and reflects the company’s efforts to introduce greater automation, digital connectivity and supply-chain visibility into its Bangladesh operations.

The warehouse incorporates seven automated guided vehicles (AGVs), advanced warehouse management systems and connected packing software. According to Avery Dennison, the system is designed to deliver real-time visibility across the fulfillment process, with processing speeds increasing by 72 percent, inbound volume capacity rising fivefold, outbound velocity doubling and inventory density increasing by 50 percent.

Speaking at the inauguration, Ambassador Christensen said technology, productivity and supply-chain efficiency were important for strengthening Bangladesh’s competitiveness. He said American companies could further enhance Bangladesh’s industrial capabilities through technology, expertise and investment, adding that initiatives such as Avery Dennison’s Smart Warehouse demonstrated the potential for deeper commercial and economic ties between Bangladesh and the United States.

“Congratulations to Avery Dennison on the opening of its new Smart Warehouse in Bangladesh. This investment is an excellent example of American business, technology, and innovation strengthening the commercial relationship between our two countries,” Christensen said.

The inauguration was attended by Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) Executive Chairman Major General Mohammad Moazzem Hossain, ndc, afwc, psc, G, MPhil; American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh (AmCham) President Syed Mohammad Kamal; and members of Avery Dennison’s executive leadership team.

Major General Moazzem Hossain said technology-driven investment was increasing the capacity and productivity of enterprises operating in the EPZs while making Bangladesh’s export industries more competitive.

He described Avery Dennison’s Smart Warehouse as an example of Bangladesh’s progress toward smart manufacturing, automation and modern supply-chain management.

“Companies like Avery Dennison are bringing not only investment to Bangladesh, but also technology, knowledge and modern production practices,” he said. He also emphasized that technology transfer and development of a skilled local workforce were among the important long-term benefits of foreign direct investment.

Before the inauguration, Ambassador Christensen met with the BEPZA executive chairman at the Dhaka EPZ Zone Office. During the meeting, BEPZA briefed him on its activities, investments in the EPZs, exports, employment, labour conditions and worker-management relations.

The discussions also focused on technology-driven investment, international standards and opportunities to strengthen Bangladesh-U.S. economic and trade relations. Christensen later wrote in the visitors’ book that he looked forward to working together on a mutually beneficial trade agenda to help unlock Bangladesh’s economic potential. He also planted a sapling on the Zone Office premises.

Avery Dennison said the new facility was developed in response to growing demand from customers for faster fulfillment, greater customization and more transparent supply chains.

Michael Barton, senior vice president and general manager of Apparel Solutions at Avery Dennison, said Bangladesh remained an important part of the company’s global apparel business.

He said the company was committed to growing alongside Bangladesh’s apparel industry as customer requirements become faster, more customized and increasingly data-driven. The new facility combines automation, connected systems and the expertise of Avery Dennison’s teams to improve the speed and reliability of service to customers.

Sazzad Hossain, general manager for Bangladesh and Sri Lanka at Avery Dennison’s Apparel Solutions, said accuracy and speed were increasingly important as customers dealt with demanding production schedules and more complex orders.

He said improved inventory visibility and closer integration of packing, storage and dispatch operations would help the company respond more effectively to shorter lead times and customized production requirements.

The Smart Warehouse will serve apparel and footwear manufacturers in Bangladesh and global markets by improving inventory visibility, reducing picking delays and logistics errors, and enabling faster response to customer requirements.

Avery Dennison’s wider apparel solutions portfolio includes Embelex, an apparel embellishment platform covering heat transfers, embroidered patches, woven labels and specialty graphics, as well as Optica, its supply-chain solutions portfolio, and RFID and other digital identification technologies.

Paxar Bangladesh has been operating at the Dhaka EPZ since 2003. The U.S.-owned company has invested approximately $81 million in Bangladesh and currently employs around 1,500 people, according to BEPZA and media reports.

The opening of the Smart Warehouse comes as Bangladesh seeks to improve productivity, technological capacity and supply-chain efficiency in its export-oriented manufacturing sector. The investment also highlights the growing role of U.S. companies in bringing advanced technology, expertise and modern production practices to Bangladesh.

Avery Dennison’s latest investment is therefore being viewed not only as an expansion of its own operations but also as an example of how American technology and investment can contribute to Bangladesh’s transition toward smarter, more digitally connected manufacturing.