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Bangladesh and the Netherlands have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to promote circular economy practices in Bangladesh’s textile and ready-made garment (RMG) sectors, with a focus on reducing waste, improving resource efficiency and boosting export competitiveness.
Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir and Dutch Minister for Climate and Green Growth Stientje van Veldhoven signed the agreement virtually at a ceremony at Bangladesh’s Ministry of Commerce in Dhaka on Monday.
Under the MoU, the two countries will expand cooperation in waste reduction, recycling, sustainable production, resource efficiency and green industrialisation across the textile value chain.
Muktadir said sustainable production and circular economy practices have become essential for the global textile industry, particularly as Bangladesh’s RMG and textile supply chains are deeply integrated into international markets.
He described the agreement as an important milestone in building a greener, more resilient and future-oriented economy, saying circularity would help strengthen export competitiveness, attract sustainable investment, create green jobs and meet evolving international market requirements.
The minister also stressed that Bangladesh’s transition from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category makes it increasingly important to strengthen sustainable industrial capacity, adopt environmentally friendly production systems and meet international standards.
Van Veldhoven said the transition to a circular economy was increasingly urgent and could not be achieved by any country alone. She called for stronger international cooperation, commercial partnerships and coordinated action across global supply chains.
She said officials from both countries had already identified priority areas for cooperation and stressed the need to turn those discussions into concrete initiatives.
The agreement was signed between Bangladesh’s Ministry of Commerce and the Netherlands’ Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy.
The partnership is expected to open new opportunities for green technologies, innovation and sustainable production in Bangladesh’s textile and RMG industries, while helping the sector become more climate-resilient and competitive in global markets.
