Swisscontact has signed a strategic partnership with the Bangladesh Garments Accessories & Packaging Manufacturers & Exporters Association (BGAPMEA) to strengthen the sector’s skills development, environmental sustainability, competitiveness, and resilience. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on 9 August 2025 at Sheraton Dhaka by Ms. Bidowra Tahmin Khan, Team Leader of InSPIRE, and BGAPMEA President Mr. Md. Shahriar.
The signing followed a workshop attended by 66 representatives from member factories, spotlighting two Swisscontact projects: Promotion of Green Growth in the Ready-Made Garments Sector Through Skills (PROGRESS) – funded by the Embassies of Sweden and Switzerland – and Initiative to Stimulate Private Investment for Resource Efficiency (InSPIRE), funded by the Embassy of Sweden in Dhaka. Through this MoU PROGRESS and InSPIRE projects will collaborate with BGAPMEA to use its existing platforms for training, awareness, and branding. BGAPMEA will endorse member factories for workforce upskilling, especially women, and support adoption of renewable energy and efficiency practices. The MoU also opens doors for future collaboration through agreed terms.
Moderating the event, Ms. Salma Akhter, Advisor-Advocacy & KEL for PROGRESS and InSPIRE. The welcome address was delivered by Ms. Farzana Amin, Team Leader of the PROGRESS project, who emphasised Swisscontact’s ongoing efforts to expand its support from the RMG sector to include garments accessories and packaging. She recognised this sector as a critical backward linkage without which the apparel industry cannot advance, and highlighted long-term sustainability focus areas such as skills development, renewable solar energy, climate action roadmaps, rainwater harvesting, carbon emission reduction, and greater participation of women in factory workforces.
BGAPMEA President Md. Md. Shahriar inaugurated the workshop, noting that the sector’s contributions extend beyond Ready-Made Garments (RMG), fulfilling 100% of packaging needs for other export-driven industries such as frozen food, footwear, and pharmaceuticals. He stressed the urgent need for modernisation, compliance with global standards, and capacity building to enhance competitiveness and prepare the sector for future demands.
Participants took part in group exercises to identify opportunities, challenges, and strategic pathways across skills, environmental, social, and administrative areas. The findings will guide Swisscontact’s future work in the sector. The workshop brought together BGAPMEA leaders, industry representatives, and development partners, and concluded with remarks from Mr. Md. Ikramul H. Sohel, Senior Programme Officer - Market Development, Development Cooperation Section, Embassy of Sweden in Dhaka.
By combining Swisscontact’s technical expertise with BGAPMEA’s leadership and network, the partnership aims to create new avenues for sustainable growth, modernisation, and skills development, ensuring the sector remains globally competitive and environmentally responsible.