Dhaka: Christian Brix M¸ller, the Ambassador of Denmark to Bangladesh, met with Mahmud Hasan Khan, the President of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), at the BGMEA Complex in Dhaka. They discussed key issues concerning the ready-made garment (RMG) industry of Bangladesh, focusing on the sector's current situation, global market dynamics, emerging challenges, and strategic priorities for sustainable growth.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, BGMEA Vice President Md. Rezwan Selim and Director Sheikh Hossain Muhammad Mustafiz were also present at the meeting. Ambassador M¸ller reaffirmed Denmark's commitment to allocating 0.7% of its GDP for the development of less-developed countries, a pledge Denmark has consistently upheld. The discussions also covered avenues for collaboration on sustainability and circularity in the RMG sector, along with improving energy efficiency.
BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan addressed Bangladesh's challenges in accessing the Generalized System of Preferences plus (GSP+) facilities post-LDC graduation, expressing concerns over the GSP+ threshold criteria. He sought Denmark's support in advocating for Bangladesh's case to EU policymakers. Additionally, Khan highlighted a decline in garment exports to the Danish market since the 2023-2024 fiscal year and urged the Danish envoy to address this issue.
Khan also requested the Danish Ambassador's assistance in mobilizing international brands to endorse a Unified Code of Conduct for the apparel sector, intended to simplify audits, reduce pressure on factories, and promote ethical and sustainable industry practices. The meeting reviewed progress on several development initiatives supported by the Danish Government in Bangladesh, including projects like CREATE, PaCT, and SWITCH2CE.
The discussions included energy audits conducted with Danish support in industrial factories, particularly in the garment sector. Ambassador M¸ller requested cooperation in ensuring accurate audits to analyze energy usage and recommend savings measures, such as rooftop solar projects.
Ambassador M¸ller emphasized Denmark's partnership with Bangladesh in clean and green technology, expressing interest in deepening cooperation in renewable energy, energy efficiency, circular economy, sustainable water management, climate change adaptation, and ICT. BGMEA President Khan expressed gratitude to Denmark for its ongoing support, particularly in the garment sector's green transition.