Akij wants to be country’s number one ceramic brand

Akij Group has not too long ago began manufacturing of tableware merchandise. It is a main funding within the sector within the nation since 2009. The group can be increasing its ceramics enterprise. 

Sheikh Bashir Uddin, managing director of Akij Group, talked concerning the new funding and enterprise enlargement in an interview with The Enterprise Normal.

What drove Akij to spend money on ceramics?

We invested in ceramics about ten years in the past and studied the chances of the enterprise at dwelling and overseas. At the moment, we made some huge plans. Now, we’re making it greater steadily.

At first, we began producing tiles solely with two strains. Now, it has been elevated to 5 strains. Every of the brand new strains is the same as the primary 7-8 strains. After that we began sanitary ware manufacturing. We now in all probability have the most important sanitary ware manufacturing unit within the nation.

We are actually the most important exporter within the European market. We manufacture sanitary ware in accordance with the necessities of European international locations.

We additionally began manufacturing tableware final month. Now we have arrange a really stunning plant for this with putting in the very best know-how and hiring expert manpower. We’re additionally utilizing the very best uncooked supplies. The response from the patrons within the first month is giving us nice hope. The method to make our plant two instances bigger has simply begun. We even have plans to make it thrice bigger than the present dimension.

The present firms within the tableware sector aren’t doing effectively. How are you planning?

I do not know if there may be any enterprise on this planet which is just for losses. In a enterprise the place one makes a loss, the opposite makes a revenue. The distinction is within the administration. We thought earlier than investing in tableware. We tried to really feel the necessity of the shoppers. Now we have invested after understanding what shoppers need. We invested right here after interested by the issues and potentialities on this sector. Now we have 80 years of enterprise expertise. Hopefully, we’ll do higher.

What are the particular qualities of Akij ceramics and tableware that patrons can be drawn to?

To make the distinction, Akij’s most important focus is on practical fashionable form and design that might draw the eye of the patrons. Greatest uncooked supplies and in-house physique composition assist Akij to make the product shiny. Lead- and cadmium-free color use in printing makes Akij tableware merchandise extra hygienic. Our merchandise include excessive scratch mark resistance. Greater than 300 cycle dishwasher makes use of give our merchandise an additional benefit. Furthermore, our in-glaze (excessive temperature) firing know-how helps to offer our clients microwave proof merchandise.

I might say that ceramic utensils naturally comply with the western patterns. For those who take a look at the shapes of the native pots, you will note that they’re just a little heavier or just a little deeper. Then again, the western merchandise are extra flat, straight and have some geometric patterns. In time, our designs have been tailored to our tradition. We produce merchandise for the native market preserving that in our thoughts. Nevertheless, we produce the merchandise for the worldwide market in accordance with the designs offered by the international patrons.

How huge is Akij’s enterprise within the ceramics sector? How a lot have you ever invested within the tableware sector?

We arrange the manufacturing unit for Akij Tableware on 25 acres of land in Trishal, Mymensingh. There was some delay in manufacturing as a consequence of a scarcity of fuel connection. Up to now, the funding in Akij Tableware has been round Tk300 crore. The manufacturing unit will steadily be expanded and can make use of greater than 3,000 individuals.

We constructed all the ceramics trade on 150-acre land in Trishal in 2012. The way in which the manufacturing unit is being expanded, will probably be one of many largest ceramic villages on this planet within the subsequent few years. Presently, there may be an funding of over Tk1,000 crore within the ceramics trade. Greater than 7,000 individuals are employed right here.

What are the ceramics merchandise of Akij that might be discovered available in the market?

Now we have a full vary of porcelain tableware containing dinner set, tea set, espresso set, firni set, rice dish, serving bowl, tea cup-saucer, espresso mug, soup bowl, flower vases in several shapes and designs. Now we have an entire resolution for anybody’s tableware requirement.

What are the prospects of tableware within the native and worldwide markets? Do you have got any plan to take a position extra on this sector?

Alternative on this sector is rising together with the growing per capita revenue of individuals. The center-class individuals now have an aspiration for a contemporary way of life. Bangladesh now imports an enormous quantity of ceramic crockery to fulfill demand. So, a market has been created right here.

Our plant has a capability to fabricate 55,000 items of tableware merchandise per day and we need to elevate the capability to 1.25 lakh items per day earlier than the tip of 2022. The extra capability will make the corporate one of many greatest tableware factories not simply in Bangladesh but in addition within the area.

The European market has an enormous demand for Bangladeshi tableware merchandise and at present the nation is exporting merchandise value round Tk500-600 crore yearly. Nevertheless, it isn’t sufficient to meet the demand. So, we see a steady double-digit progress alternative within the export market within the subsequent 10-15 years.

The place do you need to see your place available in the market after 10 years?

We consider in sustainability of our enterprise, and tomorrow is extra essential to us than right this moment. Positively we might like to see us because the primary model of Bangladesh within the ceramics trade. We additionally need to create extra demand for our merchandise each in home and export markets.