Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir on Sunday called for stronger public-private partnership to ensure compliance and boost productivity and environmental sustainability in the textile and garment industry, so that Bangladesh can retain its competitiveness in the global market.
"Factories must start preparing now to meet the changing demands of international buyers and new trade and environmental standards," he said while addressing a programme on the Skills for Self-Monitoring and Compliance with Clean and Fair Production in the Textile and Garment Industry (SCAIP) project at a city hotel.
"The results achieved so far are only our foundation, not the final destination. Together with factory owners, workers and stakeholders, we must build on this foundation and move forward to create a compliant and competitive textile sector," the minister said.
The Ministry of Commerce and SCAIP jointly organised the event, with the Sustainability in Textile and Leather Industry (STILE II) project as a partner.
Noting that the textile and garment sector accounts for more than 80 percent of the country's total export earnings, Muktadir said the industry also plays a key role in the industrial economy, providing jobs for millions, particularly women.
He said international buyers and regulators now expect safe workplaces, fair labour practices, responsible use of resources and transparency in supply chains.
Factories must build capacity in line with the European Union's new policies and regulations, the minister said, stressing that compliance must be treated as an integral part of trade strategy.
Highlighting government initiatives to ensure a business-friendly environment, he said the government was working to set policy priorities, simplify procedures, reduce logistics costs and speed up approvals related to licensing, compliance and ports.
Muktadir also said Bangladesh must make the best use of the extended period until 2029 granted for its LDC graduation preparations to retain existing international market facilities and prepare the industry for new standards.
Under SCAIP, emphasis is placed on ensuring efficient use of water, energy and chemicals by strengthening self-monitoring systems in factories, which will reduce environmental pollution while cutting production and operational costs.
The event also reviewed initiatives to build a data ecosystem suited to the Bangladesh Boiler Code, digital inspection systems, online monitoring of effluent treatment plants (ETPs), digital environmental clearance, traceability strategies and the Digital Product Passport.
Participants in the discussion said public-private partnership is essential to build a safe, environment-friendly and internationally standard industrial sector.
They said the responsibilities and accountability of all parties must be ensured to turn compliance into a tool for boosting productivity and export capacity.
The SCAIP and STILE II projects are being implemented by the German development agency GIZ, with funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
The Ministry of Commerce is the patron of SCAIP, while the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) is the implementing partner.
The project is helping build the capacity of the RMG Sustainability Council (RSC) in monitoring safety, labour and environmental standards in the textile sector.