The Ministry of Commerce of the Government of Bangladesh and the BGMEA co-hosted a high-level seminar titled “Accelerating Circular Transition through SWITCH2CE Pilot Pathways in Bangladesh” at the hotel Intercontinental in Dhaka on 6 May 2026.

Khandaker Abdul Muktadir MP, Honorable Minister of the Commerce, Industry and Textiles & Jute Ministries, attended the event as the Chief Guest, while Md. Abdur Rahim Khan, Secretary (in charge), Ministry of Commerce, chaired the seminar. H.E. Michael Miller, EU Ambassador to Bangladesh, joined as Special Guest, and Mahmud Hasan Khan, President of BGMEA, attended as Guest of Honour.

The seminar was also addressed by Mark Draeck, Chief Technical Advisor of SWITCH2CE-UNIDO; Ms. Vidiya Amrit Khan, Vice President of BGMEA; Ziaur Rahman, Regional Country Manager of H&M Group; and Mehmet Hakan Tüzün, Chief Representative of BESTSELLER Bangladesh.

Supported by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and conducted in collaboration with leading EU multinational companies H&M Group and BESTSELLER, the event brought together senior policymakers, industry leaders, diplomats, and international development partners to advance Bangladesh’s circular economy agenda in the ready-made garment sector.

The seminar highlighted the achievements and key learnings from two landmark industrial pilot projects implemented in Bangladesh under the global SWITCH to Circular Economy Value Chains (SWITCH2CE) initiative. The pilots, conducted in partnership with H&M Group and BESTSELLER, demonstrated scalable pathways for circularity in textile value chains.

The global SWITCH2CE project, is co-funded by the European Union/ European Commission and the Government of Finland/ Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, led by UNIDO, in collaboration with Chatham House Environment and Society, Circle Economy, and European Investment Bank (EIB).