The Nordic Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Bangladesh (NCCI) was established on November 23, 2010, as a collaborative effort between Nordic companies and embassies in Bangladesh. NCCI serves as a unified voice for Nordic businesses operating in the country, facilitating networking, knowledge sharing, and promoting Nordic business values. The chamber aims to enhance economic cooperation between the Nordic countries and Bangladesh, providing support to existing businesses and guidance to new Nordic ventures entering the Bangladeshi market. Through organizing events, workshops, and high-level meetings, NCCI fosters meaningful connections and contributes to the growth of its members and the broader business community. Recently, Tahrin Aman, President, NCCI spoke with the Textile Focus team at his office about the strong presence of Nordic businesses in Bangladesh. Tahrin Aman is a prominent businessman with significant contributions to the textile industry as well, he is the Managing Director of Aman Spinning Mills Ltd. He also serves as the Managing Director of Arena Securities Ltd. and is a Director at Desh General Insurance Ltd.
Textile Focus: How do you see the overall textile scenario in Bangladesh, and what are your thoughts on its improvement?
Tahrin Aman: The textile industry is currently going through a highly competitive phase. Bangladesh has reached a turning point, accompanied by various transformations and regulatory changes. Since our textile sector is closely connected to global trends, it remains to be seen how well we can keep up with them. In a short period, salaries and wages have increased significantly, gas prices have surged, and they are expected to rise further. However, yarn prices have not increased. Compared to the last 2–3 years, the textile sector has become even more competitive and challenging.
Textile Focus: We can see that the RMG sector’s growth is expected to be strong in 2025 and will likely continue to rise. In this context, what do you think about the situation of the spinning industry?
Tahrin Aman: It is natural that orders in Bangladesh’s textile sector will increase. In my opinion, producing at a lower cost than here is quite difficult. However, the key concern is how much value addition we can achieve. The previous government had provided some early indications regarding the LDC transition. If this happens, there will be significant changes in the GSP (Generalized System of Preferences). The additional costs for exporting to Europe will become a critical factor in maintaining competitiveness.
Textile Focus: Aman Spinning is one of the leading spinning mills in Bangladesh, and you have been focusing on value addition from the beginning. How do you think your strengths differ from other spinning mills?
Tahrin Aman: Aman Spinning operates differently from other spinning mills because we moved away from mass production years ago. Our primary goal is to build brand value for our spinning mill, which requires strategic changes and targeted market approaches. Currently, we are producing yarn from food waste. Many global brands like Zara, Inditex, Marks & Spencer, etc., are now focusing on sustainable sourcing. We have developed yarn from banana peels, pineapple skin, palm husks, and even betel nuts. We have implemented significant changes and upgrades in research and development (R&D), along with modifications in machine settings to enhance product quality. Instead of working with basic products, we focus on a very specific niche market.
Textile Focus: Since the market is highly competitive, where do you think Bangladesh’s spinning industry should focus?
Tahrin Aman: I believe this is the right time for spinning mills to focus on product diversification. The key aspects should be diversification and efficiency. One of the main reasons yarn prices in India are much lower is their diverse product range. If we continue to rely only on cotton yarn, survival in the market will be tough. Therefore, we must also start producing man-made fibers or similar alternative products to remain competitive.
Textile Focus: Since you are involved with the Nordic Chamber, how does it support the textile and RMG sector?Aman Spinning: The Nordic Chamber is a relatively small organization but holds a few significant members. We work closely with key players like Grameenphone, which has made a huge contribution, as well as H&M and others. The primary role of the chamber is to address issues faced by apparel brands and present them to the government. Whenever any concern arises, we try to highlight it and push for solutions at the policy level. That is where the Nordic Chamber plays a crucial role.
