Bangladesh has about 4,000 factories with 4.4 million workers, of whom 80 percent are women. 

As many as 50 million people live from the industry. The textile and garment industry makes up 29 percent of GDP and is the major industry of the country.

The Ministry of Energy, through Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (SREDA), signed a cooperation agreement with Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) on installing solar power systems on the roofs of garment workshops. 

Meanwhile, the government helps the members of associations get benefits by using renewable energy.

Minister of Energy Nasrul Hamid stressed that the use of renewable energy is an important condition for textile and garment factories in Bangladesh to maintain operations with partners all over the globe in order to reduce carbon emissions.

The textile and garment industry consumes 30 percent of the nation’s electricity consumption and the figure may drop by up to 18 percent if modern energy-saving technologies are installed.

The Bangladeshi government assigned Infrastructure Development Company and Infrastructure Financial Fund to cooperate with international development partners to give financial support to the garment industry.

The agreement signed between the government’s energy agency and textile and garment exporters association will pave the way for green power production and improve energy use.

What should Vietnam do?

For Vietnam to get more orders, experts say:

Implement a program on reducing emissions. The state can support enterprises by providing preferential loans or financial support for renewable power, and improved energy performance and use of clean power.

Support technology renovation. In order to renovate technology and  save energy, the state needs to provide finance or encourage banks to provide loans at low costs. The encouragement of investments in green technology needs to be done together with tax incentives and fee reductions.

Support training. The state needs to help enterprises develop human resources for a green economy. Human resources will determine the success of all programs.

It is time to look at the situation realistically. Why isn't Vietnam getting orders, but Bangladesh has had many orders this year?

What Bangladesh has been doing for many years could be part of the answer. The government has had clear action plans, and support from the UN, the financial and international environment institutions and factory owners.

Meanwhile, leaders of  associations in Vietnam say the shift from fast fashion to slow fashion and greening the industry is still being debated. They say this is a difficult matter, and they have only called for promoting connections, trade promotions and chain linkages.

It is now the time to shift to a green economy and circular economy. Large customers around the world require suppliers to comply with the new discipline in new times and satisfy new standards.

There is good news that HCM City is intensively accelerating research and discussions to implement green solutions as soon as possible. 

However, experts say that the chief implementers should be ministries and branches. Only when ministries and branches act decisively like Bangladesh will the transformation to the green economy of the textile and garment industry succeed.

Kim Hanh