Dhaka: Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Bangladesh Michael Miller emphasized the increasing importance of access to clean energy for Bangladesh's garment industry in maintaining its competitiveness as European markets and global value chains shift to a low-carbon future. Speaking at a roundtable in Dhaka, Miller highlighted the opportunity for Bangladesh to combine manufacturing strength with cleaner production, urging stakeholders to embrace sustainable sourcing actively.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the roundtable was organized by HSBC Bangladesh, the Apparel Impact Institute (Aii), the Embassy of Sweden in Bangladesh, and the Delegation of the European Union to Bangladesh. This event gathered international and national stakeholders, including government officials, global apparel brands, manufacturers, financial institutions, development partners, and industry associations, to discuss strategies for improving Bangladesh's access to reliable, competitive, and clean energy for its apparel industry.
Titled 'Advancing Decarbonisation for Apparel in a Changing Energy Landscape,' the roundtable underscored the urgency of accelerating Bangladesh's clean energy transition. As global apparel supply chains move towards decarbonisation, markets like the European Union are implementing more stringent sustainability and environmental requirements. Attendees included notable figures such as A K M Sohel from the Economic Relations Division, Olle Lundin from the Embassy of Sweden, CEO of HSBC Bangladesh Md Mahbub ur Rahman, and representatives from the Bangladesh Bank, BGMEA, Aii, H and M Group, and ATTI.
The discussions at the roundtable revealed a consensus on the significant opportunity for Bangladesh. By enhancing access to reliable and competitively priced clean energy, the country can support compliance with international market requirements, address global brands' decarbonisation goals, improve energy security and productivity, and maintain its status as a leading global apparel sourcing destination.
Participants highlighted that expanding access to clean energy is not just an environmental necessity but also a commercial opportunity. Reliable renewable energy sources can help manufacturers reduce emissions and energy costs, meet international brand expectations, attract investments, and solidify Bangladesh's position as a top apparel sourcing destination globally.
Kristina Elinder Liljas from the Apparel Impact Institute presented findings from Aii's research, which identifies Bangladesh as having significant potential to reduce emissions across global apparel supply chains. The research suggests that USD 6.6 billion in investment is needed to achieve a 50% reduction in emissions in the sector by 2030. Randolph Brazier and Justin Wu from HSBC also contributed insights on Bangladesh's clean energy potential via Zoom.
Md Mahbub ur Rahman, CEO of HSBC Bangladesh, stressed the importance of commercializing the energy transition to maintain Bangladesh's global leadership in apparel. He noted that unlocking private capital through supportive policies, scalable technologies, and innovative financing is essential for future investment and competitiveness.
The roundtable concluded with an emphasis on international partnerships, highlighting their critical role in supporting Bangladesh's industrial transition towards sustainable energy solutions.