Supporting a textile firm with strict E&S procedures

Q Group was founded in 1993 by M. Faruq, a former executive at the World Bank and FAO. In just 25 years of operation, it has become one of the leading garment manufacturers in Bangladesh, with major European clients such as M&S and H&M. With 19,000 employees (48% of whom are women), the Group is strongly committed to the social and environmental aspects. All the factories have Platinum/Gold LEED certifications and Q has recently become a full member of the UN Global Compact, the largest corporate sustainability initiative in the world. The Group has     also submitted its application to the SBTi. In terms of gender, it has implemented a number of initiatives, such as HERessentials and PACE, to help improve working and living conditions for women.

The project will support SQ Celsius, the subsidiary of Q Group, the main knitwear manufacturer in Bangladesh, for the construction of a state-of-the-art sweater factory (USD 40.4m), the deployment of USD 5.6m of green capex, and its increased working capital requirements (USD 21.5m).

Proparco’s loan amounts to USD 27.5m.

The expected impacts of the project are: 

• More than 12,000 direct jobs created in Q Group over the next 5 years and 41,700 direct and indirect jobs maintained 
• The reduction of gender inequalities. In this respect, 100% of the project qualifies under the 2X Challenge initiative. 

The project will contribute to SDGs 5 “Gender equality” and 8 “Decent work and economic growth”.