The Bangladesh Garments Accessories & Packaging Manufacturers & Exporters Association (BGAPMEA) has partnered with Swisscontact, a Swiss development organization, through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at fostering green growth and resilience in the garments accessories and packaging industry.
The MoU was signed during a joint workshop held in Dhaka, with Bidowara Tahmina Khan, Team Leader of the InSPIRE project and BGAPMEA President Md. Al Shahriar officiating the agreement. The event brought together industry leaders, government officials and development partners to discuss sustainable development initiatives within the sector.
Highlighting the significance of the collaboration, the workshop focused on two key projects: Promotion of Green Growth in the Ready-Made Garments Sector Through Skills (PROGRESS), supported by the Embassies of Sweden and Switzerland and Initiative to Stimulate Private Investment for Resource Efficiency (InSPIRE), funded by the Embassy of Sweden in Dhaka.
Farzana Amin, Team Leader of PROGRESS outlined long-term sustainability goals, including renewable energy adoption (solar), environmental and social sustainability measures (climate action plans, rainwater harvesting, carbon emission reduction) and increasing women’s participation in factory settings.
During the workshop, participants engaged in group exercises to identify challenges, opportunities and future pathways from various perspectives, skills development, environmental sustainability, social inclusion and administrative efficiency. The insights gathered will inform Swisscontact’s future initiatives.
Md. Al Shahriar, President of BGAPMEA, highlighted the sector’s vital role not only in supporting the RMG industry but also in supplying 100% of packaging needs for other export sectors such as frozen food, footwear and pharmaceuticals. He stressed the importance of modernisation, compliance and capacity building to ensure the industry remains competitive in the future.
