Purbani Group is one of the leading and most established textile conglomerates in Bangladesh, with a history that dates back to 1973. Initially starting as a trading company, Purbani Group has since expanded into a vertically integrated enterprise with a strong presence in various sectors of the textile industry, including spinning, weaving, dyeing, and finishing. The group specializes in the production of yarn, fabric, and readymade garments, catering to both domestic and international markets. With a reputation for quality and innovation, Purbani Group has become a key player in Bangladesh’s textile and apparel sector, contributing significantly to the country’s economy. The company’s factories are equipped with state-of-the-art machinery and technology, ensuring efficient production processes and adherence to global quality standards. Over the years, Purbani Group has built long-standing relationships with clients across Europe, the USA, and Asia, positioning itself as a reliable partner in the global textile supply chain. Additionally, the group places a strong emphasis on sustainability, adopting environmentally friendly practices and continuously upgrading its facilities to meet international compliance standards.
Md Shafiqul Islam Sarker, Managing Director, Purbani Group and Director, BTMA delivered an insightful discussion on Backward Linkages and Value Addition in Apparel Exports to Textile Focus. To create a sustainable apparel manufacturing supply chain, ensure more value addition in apparel export and attain a $100-billion apparel shipment target by 2030, it is high time to take the primary textile sector to the next level.
Read the full conversation –
Textile Focus: We all know that the country is currently experiencing instability due to the political situation. What impact do you think this instability is having on the textile sector?
Md Shafiqul Islam Sarker: We can all see that Bangladesh is currently going through a positive transformation.
Therefore, we have recently observed some uncertainty in almost all sectors.
This presents a significant challenge for our business and is causing concern for many of us. The government is also trying to address this, but they need some time to prepare, which was expected by all of us.
We were going through a process that has suddenly been disrupted. We must quickly move forward from this situation. I believe there are two or three major issues that are hindering our progress. The first is the law-and-order situation, and the second is our overall economic condition. The problems in our banking sector need to be resolved quickly, and we need to work on restoring market confidence among our customers. In my opinion, this is the biggest challenge we face ahead. Now, if we talk about high-value-added products, we have a sewing concern, through which we can produce any type of product. However, our main weakness lies in our raw materials, particularly in our yarn and fabric competency, where we are lagging behind.
Textile Focus: In the textile sector, as well as any other industry, backward linkage plays a crucial role. If backward linkage is properly maintained, it allows for cost minimization and on-time delivery. What key aspects do you think could be highlighted when comparing this with the textile industries abroad?
Md Shafiqul Islam Sarker: Our market is highly competitive, and in some cases, foreign industries are ahead of us. Our customers want backward linkage and raw material availability. If we can manage this properly, we will have a strong business edge. I believe the government has a significant role to play here as well. In terms of backward linkage,
we see that others country governments provide various incentives and support to their industries. If such support is not available, it becomes very difficult to generate profit after the initial investment. That’s why we seek the government’s assistance in this area. For example, we saw significant development in our knitwear and yarn industry in the 90s and beyond. So, if we want to work with value-added products that are not currently produced in Bangladesh, the government should support the garment industry. With government support, industries can achieve sustainability within the next 5-10 years.
I am very optimistic because our advisor Prof. Dr. Muhammad Yunus has worldwide recognition, and he is working to reinstate our GSP privileges in the USA. If that happens, I believe it will create a huge opportunity for our business, and the country will see rapid improvement. Therefore, I believe there is a lot of opportunity to develop backward linkage industries and garment industry facilities. Overall, there remains a good prospect.
Purbani Group, a prominent name in Bangladesh’s textile and garment industry, has established itself as a key player in the country’s economic growth. With its deep-rooted expertise in textile manufacturing, the group has consistently contributed to Bangladesh’s global competitiveness in apparel exports. Purbani’s commitment to high-quality production, its focus on adopting advanced technologies, and its efforts to create value-added products have set it apart from many of its competitors.
Moreover, the group’s dedication to sustainable practices and ethical business standards has earned it a solid reputation both locally and internationally. As Bangladesh’s garment and textile sectors continue to evolve, Purbani Group remains well-positioned to play a vital role in the industry’s future, leveraging its experience and adaptability to overcome challenges and seize new opportunities in global markets.
