The Embassy of the Netherlands in Bangladesh, in collaboration with BGMEA and Bangladesh Apparel Exchange (BAE), organized a Circular Textile Trade Mission matchmaking session at the BGMEA complex in Dhaka on February 12.
The session brought together representatives from 15 Dutch companies working on circularity and renewable energy, Bangladeshi apparel entrepreneurs, apparel brands, and investors. The event also attended by BGMEA Support Committee members, leaders of the garment industry, and Thijs Woudstra, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of the Netherlands in Bangladesh.
This is the first-ever Dutch trade mission visiting Bangladesh as part of the Netherlands’ Circular Textile Program. The mission includes the 15 Dutch companies working on innovative solutions in the textile sector.
The participating companies engaged in interactions and explored potential business collaborations in areas such as post-production waste management and recycling, traceability and innovation, cleaner production processes that reduce water usage, the use of renewable energy, and the adoption of circular business models and designs.
The participants also explored innovative solutions for addressing environmental challenges in the fashion industry and emphasized the importance of adopting circularity models to reduce waste, minimize the environmental impact of the industry, and achieve long-term environmental sustainability. The apparel entrepreneurs at the session highlighted that with strong support from buyers and government policy initiatives, Bangladesh could set more ambitious goals in the renewable energy sector.
The RMG sector of Bangladesh is already working on circularity initiatives, including the ongoing SWITCH2CE project, which aims to accelerate the adoption of circular business models in Bangladesh’s textile sector by promoting pre-consumer textile waste recycling and sustainable resource use. In line with its commitment to positioning Bangladesh as a responsible sourcing destination, the government of the Netherlands has continuously supported the country’s garment industry in overcoming its challenges.
The matchmaking session was organized to bridge the technological gap between Dutch companies and Bangladeshi garment manufacturers, fostering greater collaboration in the apparel and textile industries. Both Dutch and Bangladeshi participants expressed their eagerness to work together on advancing renewable and sustainable energy production in the sector.
