The American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) has partnered with Bangladesh's apparel apex body- BGMEA- to explore opportunities and work together to increase the country's trade access to the US market and improve purchasing practices.

The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and the AAFA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), As per the understanding, the AAFA will support Bangladesh in promoting its trade interests in US market, especially advocating for the withdrawal of GSP suspension to recognise the progress made in the local industry in the area of workplace safety, workers well-being and environmental sustainability.

They will also work on creating joint scoping missions to explore bilateral investment opportunities, particularly in Bangladesh's backward linkage textile industries, especially in the non-cotton segment.

According to the MoU, the two groups will explore opportunities and work together to increase trade access for Bangladesh to the US market, improve purchasing practices, build on the great work already done by the Bangladeshi industry on sustainability, and expand the strong partnership between the US and Bangladeshi industry.

They will also work collaboratively on capacity building to cut time and cost, to make supply chain more sustainable, via developing joint programmes to train workers and mid/top management, and a special collaboration with BGMEA Center for Innovation, Efficiency and OSH, and a collaborative arrangement between the Parties and BGMEA University of Fashion & Technology (BUFT).

The two associations will inspire buyers-supplier collaboration to upscale product development and innovation capability to explore untapped segments of the export market, via joint research, coaching programmes, sharing of knowledge and information like fashion trend analysis and forecasting, matchmaking events, media campaign.

AAFA and BGMEA will collaborate to deepen discussion towards a unified code of conduct like symphonisation for social and environmental audits in manufacturing facilities, via setting up of a Joint Committee with clear terms of engagement.

They will also set up a corporate alliance on CSR initiatives to ensure well-being of the workers and communities.