ECCSL & GIZ SCOPE Host 3rd Inclusive and Sustainable Business (ISB) Industry Event on Textile & Apparel Sector

The European Chamber of Commerce Sri Lanka (ECCSL) in partnership with the GIZ SCOPE (Strengthening Social Cohesion and Peace in Sri Lanka) programme convened the third of the Inclusive and Sustainable Business (ISB) Industry Event Series focusing on the Textile and Apparel sector yesterday.

The Sustainable Development Council (SDC) spearheaded the formulation of a Strategy to Promote Inclusive and Sustainable Businesses (ISB Strategy) to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Sri Lanka with technical support from UNESCAP – Trade, Investment and Innovation Division. An inclusive and sustainable business capacity assessment conducted in follow up of the National Strategy, mapped the current capacities and gaps among Sri Lankan businesses in unlocking social and environmental impact. It revealed that while Sri Lanka's apparel export sector is globally recognized for its premium ethical positioning, driven by the successful campaign -Garments without Guilt -and international sustainability certifications and ethical credentials, there is room for further improvement of capacities with regard to building inclusive, green, and regenerative business models, local value chain integration, impact reporting, accessing green, impact and grant financing and fostering collaborations with global value chains, prioritizing sustainable and inclusive practices. By transitioning towards inclusive and sustainable apparel, the Sri Lankan apparel and textile industry can leverage the growing global market for sustainable textiles whilst also contributing positively towards poverty eradication, addressing social inequalities and environmental sustainability at the national level.

ECCSL's knowledge-sharing session provided a platform for sharing best practices, strategies, and opportunities for ISB implementation in the apparel industry and overcoming challenges when adopting ISB practices.

The session kicked off with a presentation of the core elements of the ISB Strategy by the Director General of SDC, Chamindry Saparamadu followed by business presentations by Omega Line, Hirdaramani and Compreli Consulting. The session was moderated by the Project Lead (Inclusive Business Practices) of ECCSL, William Baxter and attended by business leaders, representatives from business chambers and industry association and the academia.