By Roy Lie A Tjam.
A Ministerial delegation led by H.E. Minister Lilianne Ploumen, Minister for Foreign Trade & Development Cooperation, and H.E. Minister Melanie Schultz, Minister for Infrastructure and Environment, along with representatives of textile, apparel, and water stakeholders, is due to visit Bangladesh from 14-18 June 2015. The overall objective of the visit is to enhance the water and garment business relationship between the two countries.
For a photo-album on this event, please click here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/sets/72157654246009648
H.E. Sheikh Mohammed Belal, Ambassador for the Republic of Bangladesh in the Netherlands, held a reception at Bangladesh House, Wassenaar on June 3, 2015 for an interactive pre-departure briefing.
Ambassador Sheikh Mohammed Belal presented numerous opportunities in Bangladesh, particularly the textile and apparel industries, confirming that they have much to offer the Netherlands and the world. Belal encouraged Dutch businesses to partner with his country based on the evidence suggesting that the Bangladesh “economy is soaring ahead.”
Apart from H.E. Sheikh Mohammed Belal, there were two other speakers: Mr. Han Bekke, president of MODINT, and Mr. Jeroen van Dijken LLM MSc MA, secretary to VGT, Association of Textile Wholesalers.
Mr. Bekke introduced MODINT, an association of manufacturers, importers, agents and wholesalers of clothing, fashion accessories, carpet and (interior) textiles. Furthermore Mr. Bekke expressed his appreciation and gratitude for the invitation pertaining to the upcoming visit to Bangladesh.
Mr. Jeroen van Dyke, in a revealing way, exposed the VGT ‘policy in dealing with textile & apparel exporting countries’ such as Bangladesh. Also, Van Dyke touched on the VGT ‘Plan of Action’ The primary objective of the Plan of Action is to achieve structural improvements in the broadest sense in the textile and clothing industry. The plan is widely supported, with about 100 companies having ratified it. There is a growing interest from neighboring countries as well as from the European Commission, declared Van Dyke. The Action Plan has several issues on the agenda: child labour, freedom of association, and purchasing practice to name a few. About ten working groups have been put in place to ensure achievement of the goals. The sector faces some challenges, due to the paucity (1%) of the Dutch share in the global textile and clothing market. The Plan of Action has since drawn political attention, and Parliament has adopted several motions on transparency, child labor, and living wages.
The Netherlands government has put forward her view on CSR and trade in a policy memorandum called ‘MVO Loont’ and has conducted a ‘risk analysis’ of the entire Dutch industry.
Additionally, an ILO video depicting the post Rana Plaza situation was featured. Over the past two years, the ILO has been working with its local and international partners and other workers organizations on several fronts to improve the situation of workers in the Bangladeshi garment industry. To date, there are more labor inspectors than before, in addition to much more government legislation. A victims’ compensation scheme is in place and there are over 300 workers unions. The motto of this collective Government-ILO project is “Building a brighter future.”
