At a time when many garment manufacturers in Bangladesh are concerned over the competition from upcoming players like Cambodia, Vietnam (both armed with trade benefits from various countries including USA, a major apparel export destination of Bangladesh) and the likes, Chairman of US $ 200 million turnover Day Group, M.A. Wahab, feels it’s actually the inherent challenges and the trying times thrust upon the country, which are more worrying!
“Our biggest struggle as garment manufacturers, I would say, are the times we are going through. Things have been going pretty well but for a couple of incidents which have turned everything topsy-turvy.
Overseas buyers are now reluctant to come to Bangladesh… If foreigners stop coming, it would be a big loss for the industry; after all we are dependent on apparel exports. If the present scenario continues, we better brace up for some real hard times ahead,” observed Wahab speaking to Apparel Online on the sidelines of the sixth edition of Denimsandjeans.com event pointing towards the dwindling number of foreign visitors in the show. Adding to this is the perennial problem of workers’ efficiency and productivity, which complicates things further.
“Bangladeshi workers are little laid back. Besides a majority of them are low on literacy which stymies all efforts to enhance their knowledge base and efficiencies,” explained Wahab citing instances of other manufacturing destinations as examples in contrast. “I have visited many garment factories in China, Cambodia and many other countries and seen the hard work the workers put in… If we are to do well, there’s no option but increase workers’ competence,” asserts the Chairman of Day Group, which manufactures tops and bottoms in men’s and women’s sections, besides undergarments and some sportswear.
Notwithstanding the odds, the entrepreneur in Wahab is always looking for opportunities for growth and expansion. “Whether it’s capacity expansion or getting into new markets, I am always keen to explore new avenues,” says Wahab, who has built a conglomerate over the years by his sheer hard work and determination. Today, Day Group houses Day Apparels Ltd., Day Fashions Ltd., Day Knitting Ltd., Joint Garments Ltd., JP Garments Ltd., Day C&F Ltd., Day Embroidery Ltd., Day Washing Ltd., Day Packaging Ltd. and Day International Ltd., all under the same umbrella. Going beyond the so-called traditional markets, Day Group is now exploring potentials in destinations of interest like South Africa, New Zealand, Japan, Australia and even Russia, a country not very popular amongst garment manufacturers in Bangladesh due to various reasons. “I don’t know about others but the buyer I am working with is very reasonable and understanding. Even though I am a new entrant in Russia, I have not faced any problem so far,” said Wahab, who appreciates the price offered by the Russian buyer but maintains that rates could have been more nonetheless.
“I cater small quantities to Russia… Buyers there can afford better prices to suppliers as retail price of apparel products is very high in Russia,” points out Wahab, maintaining he was yet to see such high sale price of apparels anywhere else, including the 45 countries Wahab has visited so far as a garment manufacturer and ex-BGMEA official.
