André Carstens, Ambassador of the Netherlands to Bangladesh, met with Anwar Hossain, Administrator of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) at the BGMEA Complex in Uttara, Dhaka.
Members of the BGMEA Support Committee also attended the meeting held on Thursday.
The discussions focused on strengthening collaboration to support Bangladesh’s readymade garment (RMG) sector, particularly in advancing environmental sustainability through circular fashion, recycling, and energy efficiency.
Anwar Hossain highlighted the significant strides made by the industry in ensuring workplace safety, maintaining social and environmental compliance, and promoting sustainable manufacturing.
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He briefed the Dutch envoy on BGMEA’s Sustainable Strategic Vision-2030, which aims to balance social and environmental responsibilities with economic viability. The vision includes fostering innovation, diversifying products and markets, and enhancing productivity.
Anwar Hossain expressed gratitude to the government of the Netherlands for its unwavering support to the industry. He acknowledged their support for establishing the Textile Technology Business Center (TTBC) at the BGMEA Complex.
He urged for continued support in areas such as knowledge sharing, technological advancements, and financial resources to further improve resource efficiency, energy usage, and recycling capabilities within the garment industry.
The BGMEA Administrator sought the Netherlands’ cooperation in enhancing the knowledge and skills of Bangladeshi students in textiles, fashion, design, and business through partnerships with renowned Dutch universities and institutes.
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Ambassador Carstens praised the remarkable progress made by Bangladesh’s RMG sector and reaffirmed the Netherlands’ commitment to supporting Bangladesh’s overall development, including the sustainable growth of its garment industry.
He said that the Netherlands government has been a partner in the development of Bangladesh for more than 50 years. The Netherlands government will continue to work for the overall development of Bangladesh, including the garment industry, the ambassador added.