Diplomatic Correspondent

Charge D’Affaires of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Bangladesh Andre Carstens has said Bangladesh has established itself as a formidable force in the global textile market and is recognised as the second-largest exporter.

Ahead of a Dutch trade delegation’s visit to Bangladesh, the Dutch envoy on Sunday said the textile sector is crucial to the economic growth and thrived through many global and local challenges.

“The RMG and textile industry is taking proactive steps towards sustainability by investing in circularity and establishing green factories. The Netherlands recognizes the latent power of this sector and launched the Circular Textile Programme,” he said.

The trade delegation from the Netherlands is scheduled to visit Bangladesh from February 10 to 13.

Dutch envoy Carstens said the trade mission between Bangladeshi manufacturers and the Netherland based companies is a significant step towards bridging technology gaps and fostering strong business relations.

The Netherlands Circular Textile Trade Mission consists of 18 Dutch companies, including representative from Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, apparel brands, impact investors and companies working on traceable solutions to promote circular fashion, is coming to stimulate business-to-business collaboration with the garment and textile sector of Bangladesh, an official at the Bangladesh Apparel Exchange (BAE) told UNB on Sunday.

The trade mission is being organised by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bangladesh and Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) with support and collaboration of Export Partner, Clean & Unique, BGMEA and Bangladesh Apparel Exchange (BAE), she said.

Through business-to-business collaboration, capacity building, piloting innovative practices, and cross-border dialogue, the programme aims to enable circular practices across the textile value chain, improve textile waste management systems to ensure better labor circumstances and maximise recycling and ensure inclusivity, the Dutch envoy added.

Dutch innovations in recycling, traceability technologies, and circular design can be adapted to the Bangladeshi context, he said, adding that Bangladesh’s expertise in large-scale manufacturing and local recycling methods provides valuable insights.

This is the first trade mission to Bangladesh as part of the Netherlands Circular Textile programme.

The delegation will be participating in the 6th Sustainable Apparel Forum (SAF) 2025 organised by Bangladesh Apparel Exchange (BAE).

This 6th edition of SAF will elevate Bangladesh as a leader in responsible sourcing, bridging knowledge gaps, and fostering innovation to address critical industry challenges, the BAE said.

They will visit Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and also visit RMG and textile factories in Savar, Gazipur area to promote trade and investment that benefits people, create jobs and stimulate business, transfer knowledge and skills.