Swisscontact and the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) have formalised their collaboration through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), aiming to drive sustainable and inclusive development within Bangladesh’s thriving ready-made garment (RMG) industry. The signing ceremony took place at the BGMEA office in Dhaka, marking a significant step toward industry transformation.
The agreement consolidates efforts under three key projects led by Swisscontact: PROGRESS, which promotes green growth through skills development and is funded by the Embassy of Sweden and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC); InSPIRE, a challenge fund encouraging the adoption of renewable energy and energy efficiency in the sector, also supported by the Embassy of Sweden; and BYETS, focused on enhancing youth employability via technical and soft skills training across RMG, agro-processing, and ICT sectors, funded by the Embassy of the Netherlands.
These initiatives operate across major industrial zones including Dhaka, Gazipur, Narayanganj, and Chattogram, targeting factory-level improvements. The MoU aims to leverage BGMEA’s industry influence and Swisscontact’s expertise to foster sustainability through skills development for women and youth, environmental and social compliance, adoption of clean energy, and joint outreach programs.
Speaking at the event, Ikramul H. Sohel, Senior Programme Officer at the Embassy of Sweden in Dhaka, highlighted the Swedish government’s focus on empowering MSMEs and promoting gender equality within the RMG sector.
BGMEA’s Administrator Anwar Hossain emphasised the sector’s potential for innovation and competitiveness, expressing optimism about the partnership’s impact. Swisscontact Bangladesh’s Deputy Country Director, Ishrat Fatema, also conveyed enthusiasm, noting that the collaboration aims to make the RMG industry more resilient, inclusive, and environmentally sustainable, ultimately improving livelihoods, especially for women workers.
The partnership signals a major advancement toward building a greener and more equitable RMG industry that continues to fuel Bangladesh’s economic growth while aligning with global sustainability standards. Senior leaders from BGMEA, including Senior Vice President Inamul Haq Khan Bablu and Support Committee members Asif Ashraf and ANM Saifuddin, also attended the signing ceremony, underscoring industry-wide commitment to these
