Bangladesh and Netherlands deepen partnership to advance circular economy in textiles
Bangladesh and the Netherlands have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation on the circular economy, with a focus on making Bangladesh’s textile and ready-made garment (RMG) sectors more sustainable and competitive.
The agreement will support cooperation across the textile value chain. It will focus on efficient resource use, waste reduction, recyclable production systems and green industrialization, according to the Ministry of Commerce.
Khandakar Abdul Muktadir, Commerce Minister, Government of Bangladesh, signed the MoU on behalf of Bangladesh, while Stientje van Veldhoven, Minister for Climate and Green Growth, Government of the Netherlands, signed on behalf of her country. The two ministers joined the signing ceremony virtually.
Md Ataur Rahman Khan, Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, Bangladesh; Bangladesh Ambassador to the Netherlands Faiyaz Murshid Kazi and Joris van Bommel, Dutch Ambassador to Bangladesh, among others, attended the program.
Muktadir said sustainable production systems and circular approaches have become necessary for the global textile industry.
“Bangladesh’s RMG and textile supply chains are deeply integrated into the global market. So, international cooperation in these sectors needs to be strengthened,” he said.
He said the agreement is an important step toward building a greener, more resilient and future-oriented economy.
According to Muktadir, the circular economy can help Bangladesh improve resource efficiency, attract sustainable investment and create green jobs. It can also strengthen the long-term competitiveness of the country’s export sector.He also highlighted the importance of sustainability as Bangladesh moves toward graduation from the least developed country (LDC) category.
Strengthening industrial sustainability, adopting environmentally friendly production systems and meeting international standards will help Bangladesh remain competitive in future global trade, he said.
Van Veldhoven said expanding the circular economy is now extremely important.
However, she said no country can complete the transition alone. International cooperation, commercial partnerships and coordinated action are needed across the entire supply chain.
Officials from Bangladesh and the Netherlands have already discussed priority areas for cooperation, she said. “These discussions now need to be quickly translated into concrete measures,” she added.
The Dutch minister also expressed interest in expanding cooperation between the two countries through international forums.She hoped the partnership would become more effective and focused on measurable results.
The MoU is expected to create new opportunities for green technologies, innovation and sustainable production systems in Bangladesh’s textile and RMG sectors.It could also support better resource use and help strengthen Bangladesh’s competitiveness in international markets.
