China investor thrives on wig exports

A Chinese investor at Uttara export zone is prospering on the back overseas demand of wig and hair accessories, an official said.
Subrata Sarker, deputy general manager of Evergreen Products Factory (BD) Ltd, said its exports of wigs, hair accessories, hair care items grew 29 per cent to $20 million in 2014 financial year, up from $ 15.50 million a year ago.
 "We export items like hair accessories and hair care, toupee, human hair (hairpieces), synthetic hair, yak for wig making and Halloween items like Halloween wigs, tinsel, party wigs etc," he said.
The Chinese-owned wig manufacturer at Uttara Export Processing Zone has also taken an initiative to set up a factory to produce raw materials for wig, which may boost its export further.
He expressed the hope that exports would grow by 40 per cent in FY'15 over that of its previous following as orders rose.
 "We are now manufacturing more than 60 High-cubic containers of wig per month," he said.
He said the company has employed 8,000 workers, of which 7,000 are women.
 "Three training centres have been established in the Nilphamari Sadar Upazila," he said.
He also told the FE that the company has purchased a 4,000 square metre plot to set up a factory for making raw materials of wigs.
 "The plant will work as a backup for us. Presently, we import raw materials, especially synthetic fibre from South Korea, Japan and China," he said.  
Mr Sarker said that the company has been increasing its production in response to the rising demand and total manpower of the company will be 14,000 by the end of this year.
SM Akhter Alam Mostafi, a general manager of Uttara zone, said among 22 investors, only Evergreen is engaged in manufacturing wigs and wig related items.
The company exports wigs and human hair to Africa, Oceania, mainland China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, North America, Taiwan (China) and the EU, he said.
He said nearly 13,000 people have been employed at 19 units of the zone.
 "We are expecting that manpower will reach 30,000 in next few years with opening of new units," he said.
President of Nilphamari Chamber of Commerce and Industries Md Safiqul Islam Shah (Dablu) said that the Uttara zone offers hope for the industrialisation process in the northern region.  
He said closure of state-run Darwani Textile Mill in Nilphamari was a big blow for the area which was compensated with the Uttara zone.
He said manufacturing of wig and human hair pieces has emerged as new hope for the area, providing employment of 40,000 people-directly and indirectly.
He also pointed out that export and production growth of Uttara zone is good, but it is lower than those of Ishwardi or Adamji.
 "A lack of supply of natural gas is holding back the potential of the Uttara zone," he said.
He said Bogra and Pabna regions have been added to the national grid but Rangpur region is still deprived of it.
He said availability of natural gas can promote industrial development in Nilphamari and its adjacent districts, he said.
YCL International Industries Ltd, another China-owned company, first installed a wig manufacturing plant at Mongla EPZ, according to Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA).
Currently, four companies are involved in the sector among which Evergreen Products Factory (BD) Ltd is leading.  
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