France's development agency Agence Française de Développement (AFD) has proposed making Bangladesh’s readymade garment industry green while ensuring factory safety and standards of products. AFD is likely to provide financial support to readymade garment factories for improving their standards. Bangladesh is scrutinising AFD's proposal. If found feasible it will be approved.

The French development agency has also submitted a proposal to do pre-feasibility study for urban development and coastal town protection. Bangladesh’s readymade garment industry got massive attention from the international community after the Rana Plaza collapse in April 2013 that left more than 1100 workers dead.

Major buyers from the United States and Europe blamed Bangladeshi garment makers for poor safety standards at their factories. Two western coalitions, Accord, backed by European buyers, and Alliance, backed by US buyers, are working in Bangladesh’s garment sector on issues of fire and building safety and workers’ safety. AFD entered Bangladesh as a lender a few years back. It has so far invested in a couple of projects in infrastructure development in the country. In the meantime owners of garment factories are working to improve safety standards and compliance in their factories as per recommendations of buyers.

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