"Multifabs Limited (Multifabs) is one of the compliance textile industries in Bangladesh. It came into being in 1992-93, and posted its first ever export in the following fiscal year. Since then, sustaining a spectacular growth at a rate of more than 20 percent a year. Multifabs is mandated to offer organic cotton products for all segments of apparel users including babies and infants. It maintains eco-friendly living around its factory base. It conforms to all ILO standards applicable in the country. Multifabs is WRAP certified.”

“Textile business was started in Bangladesh on 1980. At the beginning market volume was less than 100,000 USD. That time we started with Indian machinery, we could not afford European machineries due to high cost. Business started with 100,000 USD now our business volume is more than 20 Billion USD and it is forecasted to 50 Billion USD by 2014.”

“Now we have opened new markets to South Africa, Russia, Brazil, Japan and many more countries to be included. We started with certain products and now our products have been diversified and we have various types of product range. We never thought that M&S will come to Bangladesh but in reality what happened they buying even complete suite from Bangladesh. We are producing diversified product with some exclusive article too. I went to Singapore and visited some shopping mall to purchase T-Shirt and Polo shirt, I asked about manufacturer’s information, retailers checked the label and replied that goods are from Bangladesh. I feel proud when I saw other country selling goods produced in Bangladesh. Same case happened several time in Singapore and Malaysia.”

“We have been working with Lindex (Sweden), Rexhelm (Denmark) & another buyer from Germany for the last 19 years. They are not leaving us and we are not searching for alternative because of our transparent and trusted business dealing from the both side. We don’t even wait when the L/C is opened or not due to personal relation with them. What happened I can share with you, 17 years back our one buyer asked how the business was moving on? I replied we had large expenses here due to big holidays and rise of expenditure. Surprising I received a TT of $ 300000 from the buyer as loan to minimize the cost at a flexible instalment.”

If you visit our factory you can see our effective ETP we are draining our water with the parameter government required. We are thinking to add reverse osmosis process at our ETP and already submitted plan to Govt.

We are conscious about our social responsibility about underground water and electricity. We are going to replace 2500 tube light with LED light to reduce 40% power consumption. We are with IFC for Cleaner Project. They have taken a pilot project where we are number one.

We are using Fong‘s from 10 years back. We selected Fong‘s because they focus on design and produce dyeing machine only and they have R&D on it. I visited Fong‘s manufacturing unit in China recently and hope I will buy some more machines from them. I selected TEC series because of its technical advantage and user friendly operating system. I am also highly satisfied by the after sales services of Fong‘s. I am getting good feedback on low liquor ratio, load of waste water processing reduced from our ETP plant by using Fong’s TEC series. I must recommend Fong‘s TEC series as I am getting good support from them at my processing unit.

How do you feel about the stability of textile business of Bangladesh?

Mr. Faruqui : I told in an another interview that Bangladesh textile market is highly stable due to price and quality issue. It’s is totally incomparable. Everybody is telling that quota has been abolished Bangladesh textile market will be finished. But what happened actually? The export 2-3 times has gone up. This is happened due to dedicated labour, infrastructure support is improving day by day. If you talk about Vietnam, Louse, Myanmar even the cost of living is still higher than Bangladesh.
The way government, buyers, sponsors, donors are supporting us, we will go far away and will achieve our target in textile sector. Off course BD govt. had supported us. You see in Bangladesh we don‘t have enough infrastructure support, we don‘t enough power and gas supply, even you can‘t imagine there are some industrial areas without any gas supply and they have to manage by cylinders.
But still we are moving forward just because of our affectation to this sector and convenient buyers. I went to Russia as Vice President of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers & Exporters Association (BKMEA) I found our products how they like! There is a great demand of our products there.

What is your forecast after 10 years considering power crisis and labour cost?

Mr. Faruqui : Bangladesh achieved 9000 MW power generation capacity where 3 years back it was like 5000/6000 MW, so power problem will not be a big barrier for textile business. When the necessity is increased the supply will be increased anyhow. We know existing government already signed some contract with Russia regarding Nuclear power plant, hope power will be more than sufficient within few years of time.
The labour cost is fixed now it will easily perform next 10 years. Whatever it is fixed a worker is earning more by working overtime. End of the month a worker is getting a handsome salary comparing with working in field or any other firms.

As suddenly labour price and other expenditures have been increased, how are you managing this issue?

Mr. Faruqui : We have already taken all necessary steps to recover this issue. We talked with our buyers regarding this situation and off course they also know the situation. They are sharing from their part. What I have found any good buyer can realize the situation and they also ask us what the situation is and what to do. Initially we are requesting support from the buyers, cutting wastage, minimizing operating costs. Most importantly we are trying to increase the efficiency.

What kind of products are you producing in your factory?

Mr. Faruqui: There is no basic items in our factory right now. Fashion trend and human taste for clothing is changing rapidly. In Japan fashion trend change in every three months. So, I have to change the design and pattern frequently. I have Japan buyer and I have to present various type of designs all the year round to them. Same thing is happened for other buyers as well. Nowadays buyers are very choosy and they want the variation. For this we have to produce customised fashionable items. We have already started our new project for lingerie. You have seen a new building where we will start our lingerie project. Initially we will produce bra, panty, underwear, boxer shorts etc. For lingerie project our main buyer is from Germany.

Market analysis says that BD loosing USA market day by day because of GSP and Myanmar issue is this true? What will be the possible replacement of USA market if we lose them?

Mr. Faruqui : GSP has not been withdraw, it is suspended. The figure of textile export to USA comparing over all export is 2-2.5%. The main export items to USA are medicine, shrimp, frozen food etc. If you talk about the garments export comparing with the total export is very narrow and we don’t care.
Replacement has already been started. Today I had a meeting with one buyer from Brazil, they want to buy a lot. Russia market is also large and we are searching for that. We are sourcing successful business is South Africa as well. Most interestingly, China who is the dominating country in textile is buying from Bangladesh. I have faced 3-4 buyers very recently and they are willing to buy value added products from us.
We have the capacity to fulfil the requirement of any buyer from any country. If I talked about Denmark, Sweden, they are our trusted partner. We don’t want to go to other buyers by closing existing business with them. Those buyers are working with us for the last 10-15 years.

Pakistan ‚received GSP and India elected business friendly political party will that be a threat for BD apparel Industries? What challenges might come and how to face?

Mr. Faruqui : Pakistan received GSP facility in 1st January 2014. Our Danish buyer was telling to buy from Pakistan then I replied, you can order Pakistan but the way how you will receive the order is uncertain. Because there a lot of political problem all the year round in Pakistan.
There is also quality issue. Most importantly the pricing is still low in Bangladesh. I am telling in textile nobody can beat Bangladesh in price and quality issue. We are producing products for male and female from baby to elder in different style and fashion. So, who is getting GSP or elected business friendly government is not an issue at all for us, our strength is our price, quality and commitment.

What is your forecast about textile business of Bangladesh in 2014-15?

Mr. Faruqui : I am always hopeful about our textile business. You see during the last election period our business volume increased 40% and our export also not down. I can see a successful business year of textile. Whatever the situation of the country our textile sector will be in up trend. Both our Government and the opponent party feel that textile is our heart. Event in strike time our labour came and worked accordingly. All related to textile sector work together because they love this sector.