A Comparative Analysis of the Competitiveness of the Readymade Garment Industry Clusters in Delhi, Dhaka and Colombo

The Asian Development Bank has recently completed a project of City Cluster Economic Development (CCED) in South Asia, which examined the competitiveness of cities and industry clusters in Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka. Part of the research involved an analysis of ready made garment industry clusters in Deli, Dhaka, and Colombo. This paper describes new methodology techniques for analyzing the competitiveness of clusters, using modifications of the Porter Diamond Model. The study measures 39 attributes of competitiveness affecting the performance and development of three RMG industry clusters. The paper, which is part of the CCED research project, has involved on of the most in-depth analyses conducted in the competitiveness industry clusters in South Asia. The analytical methodology proved to be useful for strategizing identified strategic opportunities for interventions bu the government and cluster stakeholders to enhance the competitiveness of the ready made garment industries in the three countries.