A project was launched in the capital on Saturday to improve productivity and address social and environmental challenges in the country’s readymade garment (RMG) industry. Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and Danish Fashion and Textile Industry Associations will jointly run the DANIDA-funded project titled “Step Up Project in Bangladesh”. The project aims to build upon the already existing initiatives and focus on improving the business case of CSR (corporate social responsibility) and productivity in the small and medium factories producing apparel items for Danish buyers, organisers said. Head of CSR at Confederation of Danish Enterprise Morten Lehmann, Head of CSR at Dansk Fashion and Textile Pia Odgaar, Charge d’ Affaires at Danish Embassy in Dhaka Jakob Haugaard, BGMEA President Md Siddiqur Rahman, BGMEA vice presidents Faruque Hassan and Mohammed Nasir, were among others present at the event at a city hotel. Initially 10 local factories will be selected to conduct a baseline study of CSR and productivity performance, followed by providing necessary support to the factories to develop individual action plans for improving CSR and productivity. At the end of the project, BGMEA and Danish partners will disseminate the results and lessons learned from the project to all relevant parties. Speakers said Danish companies face strict demands of social and environmental responsibility from their customers. Through a strategic approach-merging productivity improvements and CSR-the project develops action plans and supports implementation of management systems, thus strengthening the business and bettering the bottom line, they added.
