A delegation from Australia’s largest single apparel buyer, Kmart met with Mahmud Hasan Khan, President, BGMEA to discuss collaboration opportunities for building a sustainable garment industry.

Held at the BGMEA Complex in Uttara, Dhaka, the meeting included Tristram Gray, Head- Corporate Affairs; Albert Young, Head-Ethical Sourcing; and Obaid Gazi, Ethical Sourcing Manager, Kmart Australia & New Zealand. Senior officials from BGMEA, including Inamul Haque Khan, Senior Vice President also attended.

During the discussion, Gray expressed the company's commitment to strengthening its long-standing business relationship with Bangladesh and increasing future collaborations. The conversation focused on BGMEA’s priorities for a sustainable industry and how Kmart could support these initiatives.

Mahmud Hasan Khan, President, BGMEA highlighted, sustainability is a key focus for the association. He noted, his board has initiated dialogues with all worker federations to foster good industrial relations and shared other measures taken for worker welfare. He also emphasized on the need for a Unified Code of Conduct for the garment industry to simplify the audit process, reduce pressure on factories, and enhance the industry's ethical and sustainable practices.

Both parties also discussed strategies to increase garment exports from Bangladesh to Australia, a promising market due to Bangladesh’s duty-free access. The BGMEA President urged Kmart to strengthen partnerships with suppliers to help them diversify products and enhance production capabilities. The Kmart delegation offered to facilitate communication between any BGMEA trade delegation and Australian government policymakers.