Dutch Vice-Minister for International Cooperation Steven Collet visited an outerwear factory of Bangladesh’s TEAM Group in Dhaka on Monday to discuss sustainable apparel manufacturing and trade ties as the country prepares to leave least developed country (LDC) status, the company said in a statement.
Collet toured 4A Yarn Dyeing Ltd. and held talks with senior management on LDC graduation, the proposed Bangladesh-European Union free trade agreement, decarbonisation, responsible sourcing and supply chain traceability. The two sides also discussed readiness for emerging EU sustainability regulations.
The delegation explored closer collaboration with Dutch apparel brands and development partners on clean energy, circularity, digital product passports and workforce development.
Also Read: AWARE™ Strikes China Deal to Boost Textile Traceability in Bangladesh
During a guided tour, the visitors saw a rooftop solar power plant, a rainwater harvesting system, a fair price shop and childcare facilities. The company said the factory holds LEED Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council and is the world’s first outerwear manufacturing unit to sign the United Nations Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action.
“Bangladesh’s garment industry is an important part of global value chains, and its future depends on factories that combine competitiveness with responsibility,” Collet said.
TEAM Group Managing Director Afroza Shahin said sustainability investment was central to keeping Bangladesh’s apparel industry competitive amid shifting trade dynamics. “Changing trade rules and the energy crisis both point in the same direction: the factories investing in sustainability today are the ones that will keep their markets tomorrow,” she said.
Collet was accompanied by Wampie Libon, Ambassador for Sustainable Development, and Joris van Bommel, the Dutch ambassador to Bangladesh, along with representatives of Swisscontact, Solidaridad Network, the Fair Wear Foundation and AWARE Bangladesh.
The visit underscores the growing importance of clean energy, sustainable manufacturing and international cooperation as Bangladesh’s apparel industry approaches its post-LDC transition, the company’s statement said.