Under this agreement, both BGMEA and GIZ agree to cooperate on increasing sustainability, improving energy efficiency, and advancing circularity in Bangladesh’s ready-made garment sector.
The MoU, signed on 10 May 2026 at the BGMEA Complex in Uttara by BGMEA president Mahmud Hasan Khan and Gundolf Klaehn on behalf of Thomas Rolf, Cluster Coordinator of GIZ, will remain effective from May 2026 to February 2028.
Key initiatives under the MoU
BGMEA and GIZ have outlined a series of collaborative projects, such as STILE II, SCAIP, EE4DEV, TVET4RE, SOSI, SKILLs4SE, CIRCLE, and PDP, to implement key initiatives under the MoU:
- The partners will promote sustainability in the garment industry and assist factories in meeting new EU market requirements, including supply chain due diligence, traceability, circularity, and decarbonisation. The initiative also includes further strengthening the Responsible Business Helpdesk (RBH).
- Provide technical support for factories on advanced chemical management, pollution reduction, and adherence to international environmental standards.
- Improve energy efficiency through regular audits and technical training aimed at developing a skilled workforce in renewable energy.
- Create digital databases to support social protection for workers, as well as upgrading workforce skills for sustainable employment.
- Establishment of a digital marketplace to improve transparency in textile waste management and the integration of new technologies through strategic collaborations.
- Expand the “Shokti Konya” network, encouraging greater participation of women in engineering and management positions within the apparel sector.
The ceremony was also attended by BGMEA vice president Vidiya Amrit Khan, vice president Mohammad Rafique Chowdhury and Michael Clode, head of the STILE II Project of GIZ Bangladesh, among others.
