The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has partnered with the National Productivity Organization (NPO) under the Ministry of Industries to drive the country’s readymade garment (RMG) sector towards Industry 4.0 readiness and enhance productivity in Bangladesh’s largest foreign currency-earning industry.

Industry 4.0, also known as the Fourth Industrial Revolution or 4IR, refers to the digital transformation that integrates operations, business processes, and information technology to create smarter, more efficient industrial systems.

In this connection, the two organisations signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation in boosting productivity, technological advancement, and competitiveness in the RMG sector, according to an official statement.

The agreement was signed on Wednesday at the NPO premises by Joarder Mohammed Hosne Quamar Alam, Director of BGMEA, and Md Nurul Alam, President of NPO, representing their respective organisations.

The partnership aims to prepare the RMG industry for the fourth industrial revolution, focusing on building skills, quality, agility, and cost competitiveness.

Under the MoU, BGMEA and NPO will jointly organise annual training programmes, seminars, and consultancy services to promote operational excellence through 5S, Kaizen, and Lean Manufacturing practices.

Additionally, three RMG factories will be selected each year as model enterprises to implement productivity enhancement pilot projects, receiving technical support from NPO.

The agreement also includes provisions for joint research initiatives and collaboration on programmes supported by the Asian Productivity Organization (APO) to accelerate innovation and capacity building in Bangladesh’s manufacturing sector.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, BGMEA representatives highlighted the urgency of embracing Industry 4.0 amid global tariff shifts, technological disruptions, and evolving supply chain dynamics.

‘Bangladesh can no longer rely solely on cost advantage. We must focus on quality, skills, agility, and innovation to remain globally competitive,’ said BGMEA Director Joarder Mohammed Hosne Quamar Alam.

Through this collaboration, BGMEA and NPO aim to facilitate a smooth transition towards smart manufacturing by integrating digital tools and productivity-driven innovations across the RMG value chain.