More than 20 senior leaders from key Bangladeshi textile companies recently met in Bangkok to discuss the challenges and opportunities in textile wet processing as competition in the sector intensifies around the world.
The round-table meeting, jointly organized by Huntsman Textile Effects and Swiss Colours Bangladesh, provided a forum for business leaders to exchange ideas on how textile manufacturers in Bangladesh can improve their productivity and move up the value chain. It was also an opportunity for the group to explore innovative new technologies and process innovations.
Speaking at the round-table, Rohit Aggarwal, Huntsman Textile Effects President, said: “As the long-term partner of Bangladesh’s textile industry leaders, we are fully committed to driving sustainable solutions that are environmentally friendly and economically sound. We believe in collaboration and are pleased to be able to share our expertise and our technologies to help our customers turn out higher value products from a cleaner and more efficient supply chain.”
The programme also included a tour of Huntsman Textile’s world-class manufacturing site at Mahachai, which is about 50 km outside the Thai capital. Participants saw how Huntsman’s high-quality reactive, wool and polyamide dyes and digital inks are produced and discussed environmental, health and safety (EHS) best practices with leaders at the site.
“Bangladesh is an important market for Huntsman Textile Effects and we work closely with our partner Swiss Colours to provide customized and innovative solutions for this market,” said Chuck Hirsch, Vice President, Commercial, at Huntsman. “Our aim is to enable our customers to stay at the forefront of industry trends and regulatory changes and create a more successful and sustainable textile industry in Bangladesh.”
The textile and readymade garments (RMG) sector accounts for 84% of the annual exports of Bangladesh, and downstream investment in textile processing is increasing to keep up with higher demand for high-quality dyed and printed fabric from local exporters. Price pressure in the sector remains intense, and costs are increasing as wages rise and mills make changes to meet stricter EHS standards and remove the restricted chemicals from the supply chain.