Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) requested Proparco, the financial wing of the French Development Agency, to finance SMEs in integrating environmentally sustainable practices.
The call came on February 18 when BGMEA president Faruque Hassan held a meeting with Proparco officials in Paris, according to a statement.
During the meeting, they discussed the sustainable development of Bangladesh’s RMG industry.
The Proparco delegation led by Reza Hassam Daya, Deputy Head, Manufacturing, also included Nahema Lemarchand, Jean-Emile Loubet, and Théodore Planes, it added.
They discussed Bangladesh’s apparel industry's status quo, vision, challenges, and potential.
In the meeting, BGMEA President Faruque Hassan apprised the Proparco team of the progress made by Bangladesh’s RMG industry in workplace safety, social and environmental sustainability, and workers’ wellbeing.
He also mentioned the Sustainable Strategic Vision-2030, which aims to accelerate the growth of the RMG industry in a sustainable manner so it positively impacts the economy, the environment, and the lives of people.
He said Bangladeshi garment factories were making huge investments to make their production process cleaner and more energy efficient.
However, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are in need of low-cost funding to integrate environmental sustainability practices, Mr Hassan said.
The BGMEA leader urged Proparco to provide SMEs with low-cost fund and grant as they often cannot avail of regular financing schemes due to stringent due diligence.
Chair of BGMEA Standing Committee on Press, Publication, and Publicity Shovon Islam was also present at the meeting held in Paris, added the statement.
