Faruque Hassan, President, BGMEA has requested Switzerland to extend the EBA (Everything but Arms) scheme under its Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program for 10 years for Bangladesh's smoother transition.

The request was made at the recent meeting held between Hassan and Nathalie Chuard, Ambassador of Switzerland to Bangladesh, Thomas Baumgartner, Head, Political, Economic and Cultural Affairs at BGMEA office in Dhaka.

Syed Nazrul Islam, First Vice President, BGMEA and Md Shahidullah Azam, Vice President also attended the meeting. The discussions covered issues pertinent to the readymade garment industry in Bangladesh, and its progress in the area of social and environmental sustainability.

It discussed progress of garment industry in the area of social and environmental sustainability, highlighted the future potential of the industry. Leaders also talked on the need for an industry upgrade particularly in the area of skills and efficiency enhancement, technological expertise, and diversification of products.

The BGMEA sought support from the embassy regarding the need for unified code of conduct for the social audits and collaboration to promote the untold stories of the industry's transformation.