Interview with Mr Abdullah Al Mahmud (Mahin)

Face2Face

Mr Abdullah Al Mahmud (Mahin)
Founder
Mahin Group

..more mills need to be set up, especially to cater needs of the higher end fabric buyers.

Mahin Group has started its modest journey back in 1994 with the inception of Mahin Apparels Ltd. in Mirpur, Dhaka. Before the passing of a decade, it showed remarkable growth under an efficient and dynamic management by expanding into a 100% export oriented fabric and garments manufacturing conglomerate. The group also comprises of a reputable insurance company, and is currently investing in the hotel and tourism sector in the country. The main achievement of the company is its state-of-the-art textile production facility, Hamid Fabrics Ltd (formed in 1996), which boasts of being the benchmark of quality in Bangladesh. An investment of over $50m has been made in the textile division of Mahin Group so far, and investment projected $45m in modern spinning and yarn-dyeing facilities, in 2012, is expected to give it a competitive edge in the market and will further enhance the strength of the ‘Hamid’ brand. Mr Abdullah Al Mahmud (Mahin) is the founder of Mahin Group, and has over 17 years of experience in the textile and RMG industry. A graduate from the USA, he is often referred to as a dynamic, young entrepreneur of the country. Under his leadership, Mahin Group continues its relentless pursuit of excellence in every business area it is involved in, maintaining the greatest focus on customer satisfaction, in terms of price and quality, in the industry. In Face2Face, conversing with Ms Madhu Soni, Sr Editor & Correspondent, Mr Abdullah Mahin puts across on the determinants behind investors’ increased interest in Bangladeshi textile and clothing sector recently.

Welcome to Face2Face talk Mr Mahin. Shall we begin the insights with your comments on your group’s niche in Bangladesh’s significant economy earner- textile and clothing industry?

Thank you.

Hamid Fabrics Ltd. has an uncompromising attitude when it comes to quality. It boasts of a setup that includes top of the range machinery from renowned European brands, such as Bruckner and Kusters. European dyes and chemicals are used throughout the production process.

HFL is run by an experienced management team, which comprises of local and foreign expertise. Only a handful of mills in Bangladesh operate at this level, thereby making us one of the major players in continuous solid dyeing nationwide.

So, as an eminent player in the industry, what is your opinion about textile and clothing sector’s current performance?

Bangladesh will continue to be a major player in the global textile and apparel industry. Last year total exports in the RMG sector accumulated to around $12.5 billion. This year we expect at least a 25% growth. The current trend in the industry indicates that major upper end brands are now turning to Bangladesh to fulfill their sourcing needs. Factories are now able to manufacture a wide spectrum of items, ranging from basics to highly fashionable.

Also, as reported by BOI, the sector has attracted around 50% of investments from investor community in the country. According to you, what are the driving factors behind this?

Bangladesh has massive potential for growth. In my opinion, some of the major driving factors would be labor costs, steady GDP, government initiatives to establish new Export Processing Zones to facilitate exports of such products, and various infrastructural developments. The RMG industry is still growing and attracting new investments. There is room for more quality factories and mills to develop and flourish. Not only does this sector massively contribute to national exports, it also empowers females (90% of garment workers are women), thus bringing them out of the poverty trap.

(Contd)

Published on: 02/05/2011

DISCLAIMER: All views and opinions expressed in this column are solely of the interviewee, and they do not reflect in any way the opinion of Fibre2Fashion.com.

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