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Stitching Sustainability into the Future of Bangladesh's RMG Sector: Swisscontact and BGMEA Join Forces

Bangladesh
Upskilling and Reskilling, Labour market insertion, Green cities

Syeda Suhaymah Ahmed, PROGRESS, Bangladesh15.06.2025
Swisscontact and BGMEA formalise a strategic partnership to accelerate green growth, workforce development, and inclusive practices across Bangladesh’s RMG industry.


Swisscontact has entered into a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) to advance a shared vision of a more sustainable, inclusive, and globally competitive ready-made garments (RMG) sector in Bangladesh. The MoU was officially signed on 15 June 2025 at the BGMEA Complex in Dhaka.

The collaboration brings together Swisscontact’s development expertise with BGMEA’s institutional reach, aligning efforts under three flagship projects: PROGRESS (Promoting Green Growth in the RMG Sector through Skills), InSPIRE (Initiative to Stimulate Private Investment for Resource Efficiency), and BYETS (Building Youth Employability through Skills). These projects operate across key industrial hubs, including Dhaka, Gazipur, Narayanganj, and Chattogram.

The MoU outlines a joint agenda focused on factory-level training, energy efficiency, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) compliance, and skills development – particularly for women workers – to future-proof the sector and support its transformation toward global sustainability benchmarks.

The collaboration will leverage Swisscontact’s technical expertise to implement targeted interventions in skills and sustainability, while BGMEA will facilitate access to member factories, host co-branded events, and champion the scale-up of successful models through its extensive networks and platforms.

Key areas of collaboration include:

  • Factory-level training and climate action interventions
  • Promotion of renewable energy and resource efficiency
  • Workforce development with an emphasis on female participation
  • Development of an ESG toolkit based on cross-project learnings
  • Co-branded communications campaigns and outreach
  • Joint research and knowledge-sharing initiatives

“The Swedish government prioritises empowering MSMEs and advancing gender equality within the RMG sector. We believe this partnership between Swisscontact and BGMEA will bring these priorities to life by catalysing meaningful, long-term change that benefits both workers and businesses.”

 

Ikramul H. Sohel, 

Senior Programme Officer – Inclusive Economic Development of the Embassy of Sweden in Dhaka

“This MoU reflects our commitment to strengthening Bangladesh’s RMG sector by enhancing competitiveness through innovation, workforce development, and sustainability. We look forward to working with Swisscontact to create tangible impact across the industry.”

 

Anwar Hossain

BGMEA Administrator 

“We are excited to join hands with BGMEA to scale our efforts in making the RMG sector more resilient, inclusive, and environmentally sustainable. This partnership will support factories in adopting greener practices while ensuring better livelihoods for workers, especially women.”

Ishrat Fatema 

Deputy Country Director of Swisscontact Bangladesh

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Coverage in the Media:

2022 - 2026
Bangladesh
Upskilling and Reskilling, Labour market insertion, Green cities
Promoting Green Growth in the Ready-Made Garments Sector Through Skills (PROGRESS)
The project seeks to promote a sustainable and inclusive RMG sector that prioritises secure and decent employment (60% women) while adhering to global standards in technology and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) compliance.
Learn more
2022 - 2026
Bangladesh
Upskilling and Reskilling, Labour market insertion
Building Youth Employability through Skills (BYETS)
The Building Youth Employability through Skills (BYETS) project will empower Bangladeshi youth with improved technical, employability and entrepreneurial skills, and connect them to income generating opportunities: jobs and self-employment. BYETS will partner with Training Service Providers (TSPs), government, industry, and employers to create a conducive environment for the targeted youth that would facilitate employment opportunities for them.
Learn more
2025 - 2028
Bangladesh
Green cities, Entrepreneurial ecosystems, Trade
Initiative to Stimulate Private Investment for Resource Efficiency (InSPIRE)
The InSPIRE project empowers small and medium RMG factories in Bangladesh to adopt renewable energy and energy-efficient solutions for sustainable, competitive, and inclusive sector that secures decent jobs and fosters gender equity advance compliance with global ESG (Environment, Social and Governance) standards. 
Learn more