Swisscontact has formalised a strategic partnership with the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), setting a shared course toward a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable RMG industry in Bangladesh, targeting the knitwear factories. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was officially signed on 10 July 2025 at BKMEA’s Dhaka Office.
This collaboration brings together Swisscontact’s development expertise and BKMEA’s sectoral leadership through three key projects - PROGRESS, InSPIRE, and BYETS, funded by the Embassy of Sweden, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), and the Embassy of the Netherlands. These projects are actively working with RMG factories in major industrial hubs including Dhaka, Narayanganj, Gazipur, and Chattogram.
The MoU paves the way for coordinated efforts to strengthen factory-level sustainability, enhance workforce capacity, and promote social responsibility within the knitwear factories. Special focus will be given to empowering women and youth, promoting renewable energy solutions, and helping factories meet higher environmental and social standards. By combining Swisscontact’s technical and advisory support with BKMEA’s access to member factories and policy networks, this partnership lays the groundwork for scalable innovations in green practices and industry-led upskilling.
Akhter Hossain Apurbo, Vice President, BKMEA: "Our goal is to prepare Bangladesh’s knitwear sector for the future by investing in people, processes, and planet-friendly practices. This MoU with Swisscontact opens up new avenues for shared innovation and sustainable advancements."
Bidowra Tahmin Khan, Team Leader, InSPIRE, Swisscontact Bangladesh: "Swisscontact is pleased to partner with BKMEA to further embed sustainability and inclusivity across the knitwear supply chain. Together, we can support factories to become more resource-efficient while also improving working conditions and livelihoods."
The signing ceremony was attended by BKMEA Vice-President Mohammad Rashed, Director Minhazul Hoque, and other designated officials from BKMEA, alongside representatives from Swisscontact’s PROGRESS, InSPIRE, and BYETS project teams. As Bangladesh’s RMG sector continues to strengthen its position in global knitwear exports, this alliance aims to balance growth with equity, efficiency, and environmental responsibility - paving the way for a more sustainable and inclusive future that enhances both global competitiveness and workforce well-being.