The Netherlands wants to support Bangladesh's ready-made garment industry in the areas of environmental sustainability, circular fashion, recycling, and energy efficiency. Dutch Ambassador to Bangladesh Andre Carstens met with Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Administrator Anwar Hossain and expressed his interest in these issues.

Members of the BGMEA Support Committee were also present at the courtesy call held at the BGMEA Complex in Uttara, Dhaka on December 19.

The BGMEA Administrator highlighted the progress of the industry in creating a safe workplace and maintaining social and environmental compliance and eco-friendly industrialization in the garment industry.

He informed the Dutch Ambassador about the BGMEA's Sustainable Strategic Vision-2030. He said that to ensure a sustainable and better future for the garment industry, BGMEA is working on social and environmental sustainability along with efforts to keep the industry economically viable by encouraging innovation, diversifying products and markets, and achieving greater productivity.

Anwar Hossain thanked the Government of the Netherlands for supporting the Textile Technology Business Center (TTBC) at the BGMEA Complex for the garment industry in Bangladesh.

The BGMEA Administrator requested the Government of the Netherlands to provide further support to the industry by allocating knowledge, technology and funds so that the garment industry in Bangladesh can become more energy and resource efficient, and gain expertise in recycling and other environmental areas.

He sought cooperation of the Netherlands in helping Bangladeshi students acquire more knowledge and skills in the fields of textiles, apparel, fashion, design and business through collaboration with leading Dutch fashion universities and institutes.

The Dutch Ambassador praised the progress of the Bangladeshi garment industry. He said that the Netherlands government has been a development partner of Bangladesh for more than 50 years. The Netherlands government will continue to work for the overall development of Bangladesh, including the garment industry.