Made in Bihar apparel from global brands such as H&M, Zara, Lacoste and Burberry could become a reality if the state government's plans fructify.

Bihar, taking inspiration from Bangladesh which is a manufacturing hub for the textile world, is trying to woo global apparel or readymade garment buyers.

"We are inviting big European and American readymade garment buyers to Patna in June to convince them to set up their bases here," said principal industries secretary S. Siddharth. "We will extend them all help and hold discussions over specifications and quality of the products they want. Most of them have bases in and around Dhaka in Bangladesh."

The government is trying to kickstart a textile and apparel park - on the lines of the "Bangladesh model" of decentralised garment parks - to boost industrial growth. In 2015, the Bangladesh readymade garment industry was estimated to be worth $19 billion, with exports worth $3.2 billion.

Bihar has declared 2017 as the year of textile. The industries department is setting up a 119-acre textile park in Bihta, around 40km west of Patna, with assistance from Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services (IL&FS). It is expected to be ready by September. The World Bank is helping the state government with expert guidance and technical assistance.

Siddharth had led a three-member delegation from his department to Dhaka earlier in May to get a first-hand experience of how apparel parks function there and what had led to phenomenal growth in the sector.

"These big buyers supply specifications about products and quality they want," he said. "Bangladesh has now a huge bank of skilled labour in this field. So its apparel parks are able to meet their demands easily. They could come to Patna, as we would provide concessions to them."

An industries department official pointed out that big global brands procure apparels from Bangladesh and China to save on labour cost.

"We have decided to reimburse the labour cost to these big foreign buyers, companies or any other entrepreneur if they set up manufacturing bases here," the official said. "This may not only induce them to come to Patna, but will also help develop a pool of skilled labourers needed here for this sector."

World Bank's Thailand-based consultants David Birnbaum and Chiang Mai, who have guided Bangladesh, will provide their expertise to the Bihar government.