Dutch Vice-Minister visits TEAM Group factory

Steven Collet, Vice-Minister for International Cooperation of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, visited 4A Yarn Dyeing Ltd., an outerwear manufacturing facility of TEAM Group, in Dhaka on Monday to witness the company’s sustainability initiatives and discuss opportunities for strengthening bilateral cooperation in sustainable apparel manufacturing and trade.

During the visit, the Dutch delegation held discussions with TEAM Group’s senior management on a range of issues, including Bangladesh’s graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status, the proposed Bangladesh–European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA), decarbonisation, responsible sourcing, supply chain traceability, and preparedness for emerging EU sustainability regulations.

The delegation also explored opportunities for greater collaboration with Dutch apparel brands and development partners in clean energy, circularity, digital product passports (DPP), and workforce development.

The Vice-Minister was accompanied by Wampie Libon, Ambassador for Sustainable Development; Joris van Bommel, Ambassador of the Netherlands to Bangladesh; Helal Hussain, Country Director of Swisscontact Bangladesh; Selim Reza Hasan, Country Manager of Solidaridad Network Bangladesh; Bablur Rahman, Country Manager for Bangladesh at Fair Wear Foundation; and Muyeed Hasan, Country Manager of AWARE Bangladesh.

The delegation was welcomed by Afroza Shahin, Managing Director of TEAM Group; Abdullah Hil Nakib, Deputy Managing Director; and senior officials of 4A Yarn Dyeing Ltd.

During a guided tour of the factory, the delegation visited the production floors and observed several sustainability and worker welfare initiatives, including the rooftop solar power plant, rainwater harvesting system, fair price shop, and childcare facilities.

4A Yarn Dyeing Ltd. is certified LEED Platinum by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). The facility also holds the distinction of being the world’s first outerwear manufacturing unit to sign the United Nations Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action.

Appreciating the factory’s sustainability initiatives, Steven Collet said, “Bangladesh’s garment industry is an important part of global value chains, and its future depends on factories that combine competitiveness with responsibility. It was inspiring to see how 4A Yarn Dyeing is investing in clean energy and transparency."

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“The Netherlands values its long-standing partnership with Bangladesh, and we look forward to continuing our cooperation towards a sustainable and inclusive textile sector,” he added.

Afroza Shahin, Managing Director of TEAM Group, highlighted the importance of sustainability investments in maintaining the competitiveness of Bangladesh’s apparel industry amid evolving global trade dynamics.

“The Netherlands has long been a partner in our industry's journey towards safer, fairer and greener production,” she said.

“Changing trade rules and the energy crisis both point in the same direction: the factories investing in sustainability today are the ones that will keep their markets tomorrow. We are proud to show what a Bangladeshi manufacturer can achieve, and we look forward to building on this partnership with the Netherlands,” she added.

The visit highlighted the growing importance of sustainable manufacturing, clean energy adoption, and international cooperation in strengthening Bangladesh’s apparel industry’s competitiveness as the country prepares for its post-LDC transition.