A new wave of cooperation between Bangladesh and the Netherlands is taking shape—this time through textiles. Last week, a Bangladeshi delegation participated in the Circular Textiles Program Trade Mission, hosted in the Netherlands. The visit focused on practical ways to build a circular textile economy, with Bangladesh’s ready-made garment (RMG) sector at the center of the conversation.
Over four days, the delegation toured textile recycling firms including Brightfiber Textiles, Wieland Textiles, SaXcell, and Frankenhuis Textielrecycling. They also visited Saxion University of Applied Sciences’ Circular Textile Lab and joined Circular Textile Days, where they connected with brands, recyclers, technology providers, and research institutions.
Ann Runnel, founder of Reverse Resources, shared her appreciation for the opportunity to collaborate with the Bangladeshi team. She emphasized the need to align research, investment, and technology to meet both environmental goals and market needs.
The Netherlands has committed to becoming fully circular by 2050. Bangladesh, as one of the world’s largest garment producers, brings scale and manufacturing expertise to the partnership. Together, the two countries are exploring how to combine technical know-how with production capacity to support sustainable fashion and textile recycling.
The Embassy of Bangladesh in the Netherlands and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency supported the mission, reinforcing a shared commitment to long-term collaboration in circular textiles.
