The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, BGMEA wants the Netherlands’ support in the more sustainable development of Bangladesh’s garment industry.
Faruque Hassan, President, BGMEA called for this assistance in a meeting with the visiting members of a high-level delegation of the Netherlands Parliament on 27 February, said a press release.
The meeting held at the BGMEA office discussed possible areas of cooperation to support the industry in the areas of environmentally sustainable development, circular fashion, recycling, energy efficiency, etc. At this time, both parties expressed their interest in working together for the improvement of the garment industry and the welfare of the workers, read the release.
The five-member delegation of Dutch parliamentarians consisted of Pim van Strien, Alexander Hammelburg, Mustafa Amhaouch, Raymond de Roon and Strieneke van der Graaf. Anne Van Leeuwen, Ambassador of the Netherlands in Dhaka; Thijs Woudstra, Deputy Head of Mission; Bas Blaauw, First Secretary of the Embassy and Miran Ali, Vice President of BGMEA were also present at the meeting, said the press release.
The BGMEA President briefed the delegation members on the progress made by the industry in developing a safe workplace and maintaining social and environmental compliance. He elaborated on BGMEA’s Sustainable Strategic Vision 2030 in front of members of the Parliament of the Netherlands and said that the vision aims to ensure a sustainable and prosperous future for Bangladesh’s garment industry.
Faruque Hassan said that BGMEA is striving to be economically sustainable through innovation, digitalization, product and market diversification and becoming more productive as per the new vision. He said, besides this, social and environmental obligations are also being fulfilled.
President Hassan thanked the Government of the Netherlands for supporting the Textile Technology Business Center (TTBC) and building a One-Stop Resource Center and Knowledge Hub at the BGMEA complex for the textile industry.
He also requested the government of the Netherlands through the visiting parliamentarians to consider extending the GSP (EBA) transition period from three years to six years to ensure a smooth transition to Bangladesh’s LDCs.
The BGMEA President also sought the Netherlands’ cooperation to develop the knowledge and skills of the students of the BGMEA University of Fashion and Technology (BUFT) through collaboration with leading fashion universities and institutions in the Netherlands in textiles, clothing, fashion, design, and business.
