Ministry of Commerce and BGMEA co-host landmark dialogue on circular transition, bringing together government, industry, and international development partners
The Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh and the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) today co-hosted a high-level seminar titled “Accelerating Circular Transition through SWITCH2CE Pilot Pathways in Bangladesh”. The event, supported by the UNIDO’s (United Nations Industrial Development Organization) SWITCH2CE project and conducted in cooperation with leading EU multinationals H&M Group and BESTSELLER, convened senior policymakers, industry leaders, diplomats, and international development partners to advance a national agenda for circular economy in Bangladesh’s ready-made garment (RMG) sector, a press release said.
SWITCH to Circular Economy Value Chains (SWITCH2CE) is global project co-funded by the European Union and the Government of Finland, implemented by UNIDO. In Bangladesh, the project completed two landmark industrial pilots in partnership with H&M Group and BESTSELLER, demonstrating scalable pathways for circularity in textile value chains. This seminar served as a platform to share learnings and achievements at the end of the pilots.
Minister for Commerce, Khandakar Abdul Muktadir, said “Global markets are changing rapidly. Sustainable production has now emerged as a major determinant of competitiveness in international trade. Buyers, investors, and consumers are increasingly interested in production systems that demonstrate efficiency, responsibility, and long-term resilience.”
Abdur Rahim Khan, Secretary (in charge), Ministry of Commerce, stated “Bangladesh stands at a pivotal moment as we prepare for our graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status and respond to evolving expectations from key trade partners such as the European Union. In this context, developing and adopting a robust national strategy on circular textiles is not only timely, but essential to safeguarding our competitiveness.”
H.E. Michael Miller, Ambassador of the European Union to Bangladesh, observed: “The EU-funded Switch2CE project has been working with European companies Bestseller and H&M to pilot circular practices in the RMG sector. The jhut sector holds potential export opportunities worth €3.5–4.5 billion for Bangladesh. Bangladesh has much to gain—a circular economy is a competitive economy. Europe has much to offer: technology, expertise, and the drive to make things better.”
Mahmud Khan, President, BGMEA stated “Bangladesh’s RMG industry is committed to aligning with the evolving EU regulations and embracing the transition toward circularity. To make this transformation effective, we need strong policy support from the Government, alongside technology and R&D collaboration from our European partners. At the same time, long-term commitment and alignment from global brands will be essential to integrate circularity into existing industry practices sustainably.”
Mark Draeck, Chief Technical Advisor, SWITCH2CE-UNIDO shared: “UNIDO plays a critical role in convening government, manufacturing industry and international brands to translate circular economy ambition into scalable solutions. Through SWITCH2CE, we have supported the testing of real-life business models with industry leaders, generating evidence on what works and what is needed to scale. These pilots demonstrate that with the right partnerships and enabling conditions, circularity can successfully move from concept to commercially viable practice in Bangladesh’s textile sector.”
Ziaur Rahman, Regional Country Manager at H&M Group stated: “The pilot has demonstrated that there is a viable supply chain for chemically recycled fibers using locally sourced feedstock. Initiatives like this – where government, manufacturers and brands collaborate – showcase the importance and feasibility of embedded circular economy principles in Bangladesh’s garment manufacturing sector. However, there is still a long way to go: scaling pre consumer and textile to textile recycling will require innovative policies and regulatory support, as well as effective systems for collection and sorting.”
Shehan Wijethilaka, BESTSELLER Material Management Manager mentioned “At BESTSELLER, the SWITCH2CE pilot helped us understand how critical it is to standardize textile waste value streams and ensure it is tracked from where it is generated all the way back into the value chain. Scaling circularity in Bangladesh will require collaboration across all brands and heavier investment in solutions like chemical recycling.”
Ms. Vidiya Amrit Khan, Vice President, BGMEA stated: “The conversation around sustainability in our industry has matured — it is no longer enough to talk about green factories alone. We must now confront the full lifecycle of the products we make, including what happens to the fabric waste generated along the way. Bangladesh has a real opportunity to position itself not just as a manufacturer, but as a circular economy pioneer. With the right policy environment, investment signals, and industry-wide commitment, we can turn what was once considered waste into a driver of value, competitiveness, and long-term resilience for our sector.”
