Two Bangladeshi garment associations and SouthAsia Enterprise Development Facility (SEDF) have recently entered into a tripartite agreement to develop the capacity of the associations in environmental issues.

The SEDF signed the deal with Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers & Exporters Association (BGMEA) and Bangladesh Export Oriented Garments Washing Industries Owners Association, said a statement.

The deal is aimed at monitoring and providing advisory services to the members of the associations on issues of environment compliance under a project.

The parties will work together to conduct environmental audits on member factories with washing-dyeing-finishing facilities and create a database.

Compliance officers will get training to carry out environmental audits and conduct study to identify best effluent treatment plant solutions for local factories.

The project also aims to create an environment compliance monitoring and advisory cell, which will organise training programmes and disseminate knowledge about cleaner production among the member factories.

BGMEA President Abdus Salam Murshedy said: “This represents a big step for BGMEA. We are committed to working together to promote environment compliance standards in the industry to ensure its long-term sustainability.”

“This project will help the washing, dyeing and finishing industry introduce cleaner production techniques. This will not only reduce the cost of operations but also make the industry environmentally compliant,” said Shafiqur Rahman, president of the garments washing industries owners' association.

Mrinal Sircar, programme manager of SEDF, said: “Sustainability of the apparel sector is vital for Bangladesh to ensure its continued economic growth. Successful completion of this project will allow Bangladeshi readymade garment sector to gain a competitive edge in the world market by showcasing its efforts towards a greener supply chain.”

SEDF is managed by IFC Advisory Services in South Asia in partnership with the Norwegian Agency for Development and the UK Department for International Development.