Harvard is addressing the state of Bangladesh’s garment industry.
The university will host an international conference on sustainable business models for the Bangladesh apparel industry on Sept. 24 in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Titled “Sustainable Models for the Bangladesh Apparel Industry,” the conference will discuss greener solutions that benefit workers and stakeholders, in addition to creating strategic approaches for today’s changing manufacturing and distribution channels. In order for Bangladesh to hold high in the global market, it is crucial for the Asian nation to conserve costs and raise the bar for compliance standards that support workers and the planet.
Organized by the International Sustainable Development Institute (ISDI) and Harvard Law School’s Labor and Worklife Program, the conference will host sessions about Bangladesh’s challenges and how collaborative problem solving is required to reach the nation’s economic development potential. The four sessions include, “Supply chain compliance and the need for fair price strategy and shared responsibility,” “Trade policy, worker’s rights and working condition—opportunities and challenges,” “Environmental sustainability development strategy: A necessity, not an option” and “Bangladesh apparel industry—roadmap to achieve $50 billion by 2021.”
Conference participants will include representatives from Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), international clothing retailers, international financial institutions, United Nations agencies, workers’ rights groups and international labor organizations.
“Sustainable Models for the Bangladesh Apparel Industry” will take place at Harvard Law School, Wasserstein Hall, Room 2012 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. To attend, interested parties may contact Mohammed Iqbal Yousuf at mohammed_yousuf@dfci.harvard.edu or call (617) 416-9036.