BGMEA President Faruque Hassan has called on Primark to increase sourcing apparel, especially more diversified value-added products from Bangladesh. He also urged the globally renowned clothing brand to strengthen partnership with their suppliers in Bangladesh to produce more innovative high-end products. He requested Primark to build long-term partnership with their suppliers to support them in scaling up capacity in the area of sustainability in products and processes. Read more: BGMEA eyes expanding RMG exports to Japan The call was made when a delegation of Primark and Associated British Foods (ABF) met with BGMEA President Faruque Hassan at BGMEA Complex in Uttara, Dhaka Monday, according to a press release. The delegation included Paul Marchant, CEO, Primark, Paul Lister, Director of Legal Services and Company Secretary, ABF, Katharine Stewart, Group Corporate Responsibility Director, ABF, Steve Lawton, Primark Group Product Director, Jon Rolls, Group Director of Planning and Space, Emma Ormond, Head of Policy and Public Affairs, Primark, Matthew Rhodes, Head Of Sourcing Primark, and Filippo Poggi, Country Controller Bangladesh , Primark.

Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) leaders have met with Primark and its Associated British Foods (ABF) parent’s leaders to discuss Primark’s new wide-reaching sustainability strategy.BGMEA President Faruque Hassan, Vice President Miran Ali, Directors Asif Ashraf and Abdullah Hil Rakib met with Paul Lister, Director of Legal Services and Company Secretary ABF, Paul Marchant, CEO Primark, Lynne Walker, Director Primark Cares and Juan Chaparro, Group Director Supply Chain, Sourcing and Quality in London to discuss Primark’s new sustainability strategy Primark Cares, and BGMEA’s support for its sustainability ambitions. Also read: BGMEA sees the future in value-added, high-end apparel items BGMEA expressed its support for the objectives Primark has set out to change the ways its clothes are made, halve its carbon emissions across its wider supply chain and improve the lives of the workers in the supply chain, BGMEA said on Saturday.Bangladesh is Primark’s second largest sourcing market and home to many of Primark’s strategic suppliers and their factories.The BGMEA’s support, as one of the country’s largest trade associations for the garment industry, can play a valuable role in helping engage its members in Primark’s sustainability goals.Both parties discussed the new commitments which Primark will work towards over the next decade in greater detail: Primark has been deliberately ambitious in its goals, stretching targets across its use of recycled materials, environmental footprint and how it will take a leadership role in improving the lives and wellbeing of workers in its supply chain.This means that delivering many of the new commitments will rely on driving change throughout Primark’s wider supply chain, so gaining the support of external stakeholders, such as the BGMEA, is important. Also read: BGMEA seeks Laudes Foundation's support for its new centreBoth Primark and the BGMEA have shared goals around sustainability, in particular around workers’ wellbeing and skills development, and look forward to sharing experiences and best practices with each other into the future.