The Global Textile and Clothing Programme (GTEX) phase II is a technical assistance programme that will support the Textile & Clothing sector in Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia as well as Sri Lanka to increase its export competitiveness by focusing on sustainability and circularity aspects as key competitiveness drivers. In order to comply with increasing sustainability requirements imposed by governments as well as international buyers, a transformational change of the industry is required. In order to achieve this, while fostering the sector’s potential for job creation and poverty reduction through export expansion, the program works directly with enterprises as well as with the institutional ecosystem in the partner countries. Recognizing the critical need for sustainable and inclusive practices, the programme drive systematic change within the industry, aligning with the mission of advancing the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The main stakeholders of the GTEX2 Sri Lanka programme are Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) and the Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF). The Swiss Government is funding for this programme and International Trade Center (ITC) is providing the technical assistance. On behalf of Sri Lankan Government, EDB has signed a Project Agreement with Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) to implement the GTEX2 in Sri Lanka from 2024 to 2027 for the benefit of the Sri Lankan apparel sector.
The International Trade Centre (ITC), under its Global Textile and Clothing Programme (GTEX), successfully conducted a full-day Environmental Compliance Workshop on 24 April 2025 at Galle Face Hotel, Colombo. The event brought together representatives from over 26 Sri Lankan textile factories, environmental specialists, sustainability professionals, and key institutional stakeholders.
The workshop was organized in response to findings from recent environmental assessments carried out across GTEX-supported factories. It aimed to address key compliance gaps, raise awareness of regulatory requirements, strengthen environmental management capabilities, and promote sustainable practices within Sri Lanka’s textile and clothing sector.
Throughout the day, participants explored several crucial aspects of environmental compliance relevant to the industry. The key focus areas included Environmental Management Systems (EMS), Energy Management, Water Management, Waste Management, Wastewater Management, Air Emissions Controls, Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Controls, and Chemical and Soil Management.
The workshop featured a series of insightful sessions such as Aligning Apparel Manufacturing with the Global Sustainability Agenda: A Case Study, Environmental Laws & Common Non-Compliances, Sustainable Practices for Cost Reduction, and the development of a Sustainability Roadmap & Action Plan.
The event concluded with an introduction to the ITC Global Textile Academy, offering participants access to further learning opportunities and tools for continuous improvement in environmental compliance and sustainability.
