‘Swisscontact’ Bangladesh hosted an event titled “Fabric of Change: Role of Swisscontact in Upskilling RMG Workers in Bangladesh” at the Renaissance Hotel, Dhaka, to share experiences with key stakeholders in the Ready-Made Garments sector. The event showcased Swisscontact’s three skills development projects: Sarathi – Improving Financial Health, Promoting Green Growth in the Ready-Made Garments Sector Through Skills (PROGRESS), and Building Youth Employability through Skills (BYETS).
Special guests included Mohammad Sohel Sadat, Director of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA); Md. Akhter Hossain Apurbo, Vice President of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Associations (BKMEA); Rajesh Bheda, CEO and Managing Director of Rajesh Bheda Consulting BD Pvt. Limited (RBC); and Omar Gias, Director of Strategic Engagements at Bangladesh Apparel Exchange (BAE).
The event began with opening remarks by Swisscontact Bangladesh Country Director Mujibul Cezanne Hasan and a keynote speech by Nadia Afrin Shams, BYETS Project Team Leader. Senior managers from Swisscontact’s flagship projects shared their achievements in upskilling women workers and supporting global compliance standards.
Mujibul Cezanne Hasan emphasized the need for business-viable and self-sustaining models for the RMG sector as Bangladesh moves towards LDC graduation. Mohammad Sohel Sadat highlighted the importance of sustainability and compliance, especially at the mid and upper management levels. Md. Akhter Hossain Apurbo stressed the need for a good working environment and improved mid-management to enhance productivity and monitor green energy footprints. Rajesh Bheda shared successful cases of women taking leadership roles in the RMG sector.
The event underscored the industry’s enthusiasm for deeper collaborations between the private and development sectors to build a sustainable RMG skills development ecosystem. Fazle Razik, Head of Programme at Swisscontact Bangladesh, concluded by emphasizing the importance of stakeholder contributions to create sustainable and scalable impacts.
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