The SWITCH to Circular Economy Value Chains (SWITCH2CE) Project, which UNIDO and national and international partners are implementing in Bangladesh to guide the textile and apparel industry toward circular, sustainable business practices, was formally launched with a series of activities.
Environmental issues related to textile waste have become a major problem against the backdrop of Bangladesh’s exceptional economic success, which has made it the world’s second-largest exporter of apparel and a considerable contributor to GDP.
In order to address this, the international SWITCH2CE project, which is supported by both the European Union and the Government of Finland, is poised to set the standard for circular strategies in the value chains for textiles, plastic packaging, and ICT & Electronics.
According to a press release, UNIDO works with significant partners like Chatham House, Circle Economy, and the European Investment Bank to further this worldwide project.
To assist the circular transition in the textile and apparel industries in Bangladesh, the initiative collaborates with national and international partners from the commercial sector, think tanks, and the government.
Leaders from business, politics, academia, and other sectors of the global community gathered today for an inaugural event co-hosted by UNIDO and the Bangladeshi Ministry of Commerce.
The purpose of the event was to promote cooperation, highlight project techniques, such as the model of testing out circular strategies with the private sector, highlight circularity in the textile and apparel sector, and investigate policy and knowledge ecosystems.
Zaki Uz Zaman, the UNIDO representative in Bangladesh, and Abdur Rahim Khan, additional secretary and head of the export wing at the Bangladeshi ministry of commerce, respectively, opened the event.
Zaki Uz Zaman presented UNIDO initiatives on sustainable industrial advancements in his introductory remarks. These programs have been successful in assisting numerous sectors with economic growth, and UNIDO is continuing to use this strategy going forward.
Mark Draeck, SWITCH2CE Chief Technical Advisor, expressed that, through this project, UNIDO is committed to support the Ministry of Commerce in its efforts to guide and accelerate the transition towards a circular textile sector in Bangladesh.
Golam Dastagir Gazi, Ministry of Textile and Jute, in his official address shared “The SWITCH to Circular Economy Value Chains project’s outcomes will enable the circular economy transition of textile industry in Bangladesh by creating significant trade and social impacts for the country. It will support our country’s development journey by 2041.”
The Senior Secretary from the Ministry of Commerce, Tapan Kanti Ghosh, expressed his confidence for the circular transition. ”Circularity in the garment sector will enhance our export along with the branding image of Bangladesh”.
He also emphasized on the role of all the stakeholders that are showing a strong commitment to take forward the industry to be compliant with international rules and norms.
On behalf of the EU Delegation to Bangladesh, Dr. Bernd SPANIER, Charg, d’Affaires, pointed out that “Bangladesh is now a world leader in green factories – there is no reason why it could not become a world leader in circularity, too.”
Faruque Hassan, President of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), stated that BGMEA has realigned its priorities to continuously deliver better solutions.
“We have recently introduced a new corporate logo representing nine commitments, with “Circularity” being one of them. Our goal is to conserve the natural eco-system through an economic shift from a linear to a circular system. This is not just a vision; it’s a commitment to drive change.”
H&M and BGMEA, two of the biggest trade organizations in the nation that represent the ready-to-wear industry, participated in a panel discussion at the event.
In the forthcoming time, Circle Economy will continue the SWITCH2CE operations in Bangladesh with a value chain assessment as well as local capacity assessment and capacity building initiatives.
