Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) on Monday sought Denmark’s support in addressing concerns related to the GSP Plus threshold criteria and advocating in favour of Bangladesh to EU policymakers.

BGMEA also requested the mobilisation of international brands to endorse a Unified Code of Conduct for the apparel sector, saying such a unified code would simplify audit processes, reduce pressure on factories, and help make the industry more ethical, sustainable, and accountable.

Highlighting Bangladesh’s challenges in accessing the Generalised System of Preferences Plus (GSP+) facilities after its graduation from LDC status, BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan made the requests when the Ambassador of Denmark to Bangladesh, Christian Brix Møller, paid a courtesy visit to the former’s office in Uttara, Dhaka.

The BGMEA President also expressed concern over the declining trend in garment exports from Bangladesh to the Danish market since the 2023–2024 fiscal year and requested the envoy to look into the issue.

During the meeting, they discussed key issues concerning Bangladesh’s readymade garment industry, including the current state of the sector, evolving global market dynamics, emerging challenges, and strategic priorities to ensure sustainable growth.

BGMEA Vice-President Md Rezwan Selim and Director Sheikh Hossain Muhammad Mustafiz were also present at the meeting.

Mr Møller reaffirmed Denmark’s commitment to dedicating 0.7 per cent of its GDP towards the development of least developed countries (LDCs)—a pledge Denmark has consistently honoured, even amid global and domestic political and economic challenges, according to a statement issued by the BGMEA.

They discussed possible avenues for further collaboration between Denmark and Bangladesh on sustainability and circularity in the RMG sector, as well as improving energy efficiency in the industry.

The meeting also reviewed the progress of several ongoing development initiatives, including CREATE, PaCT (Partnership for Cleaner Textile), and SWITCH2CE—all aimed at advancing green transformation and a sustainable industrial economy, supported by Denmark in Bangladesh.

The meeting further discussed the energy audits currently being conducted, with Danish support, in various industrial factories, especially in the garment sector.

Emphasis was placed on ensuring the audits provide accurate and reliable data. The statement added that Mr Møller requested the BGMEA President’s cooperation in this matter, noting that the audits would analyse energy usage in factories and recommend energy-saving measures, including the feasibility of rooftop solar projects.

Citing the envoy, the statement said both BGMEA and BKMEA are expected to benefit significantly from the findings.

Highlighting Denmark’s partnership with Bangladesh in clean and green technology, Mr Møller expressed Denmark’s interest in deepening this cooperation.

He emphasised Denmark’s willingness to strengthen collaboration with Bangladesh in areas such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, circular economy, sustainable water management, climate change adaptation, and ICT.