Fashion and Textiles
Engage, explore, and excel with the Trade Council in Dhaka as your commercial and trade partner. Elevate your fashion and textile aspirations, internationalize, from within a global hub in Bangladesh.
Ready-made garment (RMG) industry is the one of the strongest pillars of Bangladesh’s economy and a major source of export income. There are more than 4000 factories in Bangladesh manufacturing and serving the global fashion brands.
In 2022, Denmark and Bangladesh signed a Sustainable and Green Framework Engagement Agreement for green transition. Danish Embassy Bangladesh wishes to reduce the environmental impact of textiles by introducing sustainable design, sustainable manufacturing, ecologically friendly fashion, and textiles.
Market Insights:
• Annual export from the RMG sector reached more than $45 billion in the year 2022 (Source: Export Promotion Bureau);
• Bangladesh is currently exporting to more than 150 countries across the globe and has duty free market access to EU.
• It is currently the second largest exporter of clothing to the EU.
• Over 80% of Bangladeshi RMG factories are maintaining international level safety and compliance in accordance to social, ethical and environmental certifications. (Source: BGMEA- Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers & Exporters Association)
• In 2021, Denmark imported goods worth $991 million out of which over 92% of the goods were related to fashion and textile.
• Bangladeshi RMG factories, consciously maintain and practice social sustainability, wages and environment protection. (Source: BGMEA)
• Bangladesh is working towards creating transparency for all orders within its supply chain, and provide accurate reporting on their emissions. In light of new due diligence companies are developing best practices to ensure traceability.
Opportunities:
The RMG sector is an ideal platform for Danish companies to experience a variety of opportunities to accelerate and expand their business.
• Sourcing at competitive prices for large or small lots is possible.
• Design development service is available.
• Products with special requirements like organic cotton or recycled materials are also available.
• Engage with compliant factories who have expertise in social sustainability, including textile strategy, green claim, value chain models, EU due diligence, CSRD, CSDDD, responsible business behaviour, circular economy, ESG, emission factor, EU green deal, and SDG support in the fashion and textile industries.
Further Information:
Denmark was a founding member of the P4G and supports the textile sector through the Partnership for Cleaner Textiles (PaCT) programme with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) of the World Bank. Other projects, such as 'Circular Economy in Bangladesh's Apparel Industry (CREATE),' are being funded by the Danish Foreign Ministry.
The Danish Embassy is currently working with Danish, Bangladesh and other international partners to facilitate Bangladesh’s fashion and textile industry. The Embassy’s Sector Cooperation on Occupational Health and Safety is strengthening the factory inspectors’ capacity and creating better work conditions that translate to better business. Meanwhile, the Sustainability & Supply Chain Advisory (SSCA), with a team of industry specialists are ready to help Danish brands maintain their commitment to sustainability.
Our expertise in helping Danish brands include, but are not limited to
• Identifying suppliers;
• Stakeholder basic mapping;
• Engaging with public and private sector stakeholders;
• Developing sustainability strategy and governance;
• Providing direction to suppliers and communicating requirements;
• Obtaining data from suppliers on behalf of Danish brand;
• Assessing traceable sustainable materials;
• Guidance and training on compliance, certification and documentation;
• Developing chemical strategy and environmental sustainability in supply chains
Customized assistance for the Danish companies, ensure the best value addition to address the needs and fill the gaps.
Link to SSCA service page