The global apparel industry is rapidly shifting from cost-based competition to sustainability-driven performance. Accordingly, compliance with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards is not optional anymore. Rather, it now determines market access, buyer confidence, and long-term competitiveness. For Bangladesh’s RMG sector, which contributes over 80% of export earnings, aligning with ESG standards is essential to maintain global relevance and resilience.
Innovision Consulting is working with Swisscontact Bangladesh to implement field-level interventions under the Promoting Green Growth in the Ready-Made Garments Sector Through Skills (PROGRESS) project. Funded by the Embassies of Sweden and Switzerland, PROGRESS supports RMG factories in advancing their green transition by strengthening resilience and competitiveness. Under this assignment, Innovision is focusing on developing the capacity of Local Technical Consultancy Providers (LTCPs) to deliver effective technical and advisory services to the factories. This effort aims to build a strong pool of local consultants, drive broader adoption of ESG standards across RMG sub-sectors, establish sustainable service delivery models, and create a practical roadmap for replicating successful green growth interventions in other industries.
The process of developing a skilled pool of LTCPs began with an open call for applications, which drew strong interest from professionals across diverse fields, including consultancy, academia, and industry. Applicants underwent a structured shortlisting and assessment process involving interactive workshops and capacity evaluations to gauge their technical knowledge, practical experience, and readiness to support factories in adopting sustainable and responsible practices. Based on performance and potential, a group of qualified LTCPs was selected to join the project as key partners in advancing the green growth agenda.
The first capacity development session for 30 selected LTCPs was held on 1 November 2025 at Hotel Bengal Blueberry, Gulshan 2. The session was facilitated by SusNex Ltd., the project’s Specialized Consultancy Service Provider (SCSP). Training focused on the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards and sustainability reporting, core tools for measuring and communicating ESG performance. Participants gained hands-on experience in identifying material sustainability indicators, collecting and analyzing ESG data, and preparing factory-level sustainability reports aligned with international benchmarks. The session strengthened participants’ ability to guide factories in enhancing transparency, improving operational accountability, and meeting buyer expectations for responsible and compliant production.
Participants demonstrated strong engagement, actively contributing to group work and discussions. Many continued discussions and sought clarification even after the session ended, and reflected a strong commitment to apply the knowledge in practice.
This training marks the start of a structured process to foster local expertise and embed sustainability at the core of Bangladesh’s industrial growth. By the conclusion of the project in July 2026, these 30 LTCPs are expected to be fully trained, actively delivering advisory services to factories, and sustaining their work independently.