The Bangladesh Garments Accessories & Packaging Manufacturers & Exporters Association (BGAPMEA) and Swisscontact have joined forces to advance sustainable development and strengthen resilience within the garments accessories and packaging industry.

The partnership was formalised with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during a half-day workshop held on August 9 at the Hotel Sheraton Dhaka in Banani.

The event highlighted two core initiatives: the Promotion of Green Growth in the Ready-Made Garments Sector Through Skills (PROGRESS) and the Initiative to Stimulate Private Investment for Resource Efficiency (InSPIRE).

Both initiatives are funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), and implemented by Swisscontact.

Md Shahriar, President of BGAPMEA, presided over the workshop and emphasised the sector’s vital role in supporting not only the ready-made garments industry but also fulfilling packaging requirements for other export-oriented sectors such as frozen food, footwear, pharmaceuticals, ceramics, and leather goods.

He highlighted the urgent need for modernisation, improved compliance, and capacity building to prepare the sector for future demands and global competitiveness.

The MoU signing was completed by Bidowara Tahmina Khan, Team Leader of the InSPIRE project, on behalf of Swisscontact, and Shahriar representing BGAPMEA.

The workshop brought together senior officials, directors, former presidents and vice presidents of BGAPMEA, representatives from member companies, officials from development agencies, and key stakeholders from the industry to endorse the shared commitment to sustainable growth and resource efficiency in this critical sector.