- Mr Abdus Salam Murshedy , Managing Director , Envoy Group
Headquartered in Bangladesh, established in 1984, Envoy Group is a giant company that has earned unrivaled success in the field of Ready-Made Garments (RMG), Textiles, Local and International Trading, Freight Forwarding, Information Technology, Washing Plant, Real Estate, Banking Automation, Health Care, Hospitality Service, Consumer Products etc.
The Group represents 27 business enterprises at present, including 14 garments factories with around 15000 employees. The total investment in Apparel, Freight Forwarding, Information Technology, Trading & Textiles is approximately 80 million USD and annual turnover is approximately 120 million USD.
Recognizing the extra-ordinary contribution the group has made into the export from the country, Government has awarded the organization with the prestigious National Export Trophy and Presidents Export Trophy.
A graduate from Dhaka University, Mr Abdus Salam Murshedy, Managing Director of Envoy Group has an excellent business background and highly reputed for his relentless endeavors and dynamism. He is a prominent personality in the business arena of the country and playing a pre-dominant role in establishing a solid industrial base in Bangladesh.
A born leader with vision Mr Salam started the company in 1984. In less than two decades, he has guided the organization to emerge a business conglomerate in Bangladesh.
Mr Salam is closely associated to the Garment movement in Bangladesh. He has been playing a vital role in Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) for last 20 years. His tremendous contribution to the garment sector drove him towards successful running in the BGMEA election as a Director for Four tenures.
Mr Salam was also working as a Sr Vice President of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and as a Chairman of Standing Committee on Customs BGMEA. His innovative ideas halved the complexity of Import and Export procedure and brought smoothness in the operation in respect of Customs activities. His intelligence, brilliant policy making ability and immense contribution made him elected as a President of BGMEA year 2009-2011. Currently, he is the Chairman of the Exports Association of Bangladesh (EAB).
Widely renowned for his magical skill as a footballer, he is one of the finest sports-personality that Bangladesh has ever produced. Mr Salam led the National Football Team of the country in many international tournaments. He played for Mohammedan Sporting Club for many years as a player as well as a captain. His record of scoring 27 goals in a single season in the National Football League of Bangladesh is still intact. After retiring as a professional player, Mr Salam has not isolated himself from football. He contributed a lot earlier to the development of football as the Sports Secretary of Mohammedan Sporting Club. His professionalism, dedication and laudable personality made him currently elected as a Senior Vice President of Bangladesh Football Federation. Mr Salam is a member of all the elite clubs in Dhaka. In recognition of his great contribution and talent he has been honored with the National Sports Award by the Ministry of youth and sports.
His social commitments are also notable. He has undertaken various social-welfare initiatives for the less fortunate people. He has made immense contributions to the establishment of many Schools, Colleges and Mosques throughout the Country.
Mr Abdus Salam Murshedy, speaking with Ms Madhu Soni, Sr Editor & Correspondent-Face2Face, touches upon the factors boosting Bangladeshi RMG sector.
The Group represents 27 business enterprises at present, including 14 garments factories with around 15000 employees. The total investment in Apparel, Freight Forwarding, Information Technology, Trading & Textiles is approximately 80 million USD and annual turnover is approximately 120 million USD.
Recognizing the extra-ordinary contribution the group has made into the export from the country, Government has awarded the organization with the prestigious National Export Trophy and Presidents Export Trophy.
A graduate from Dhaka University, Mr Abdus Salam Murshedy, Managing Director of Envoy Group has an excellent business background and highly reputed for his relentless endeavors and dynamism. He is a prominent personality in the business arena of the country and playing a pre-dominant role in establishing a solid industrial base in Bangladesh.
A born leader with vision Mr Salam started the company in 1984. In less than two decades, he has guided the organization to emerge a business conglomerate in Bangladesh.
Mr Salam is closely associated to the Garment movement in Bangladesh. He has been playing a vital role in Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) for last 20 years. His tremendous contribution to the garment sector drove him towards successful running in the BGMEA election as a Director for Four tenures.
Mr Salam was also working as a Sr Vice President of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and as a Chairman of Standing Committee on Customs BGMEA. His innovative ideas halved the complexity of Import and Export procedure and brought smoothness in the operation in respect of Customs activities. His intelligence, brilliant policy making ability and immense contribution made him elected as a President of BGMEA year 2009-2011. Currently, he is the Chairman of the Exports Association of Bangladesh (EAB).
Widely renowned for his magical skill as a footballer, he is one of the finest sports-personality that Bangladesh has ever produced. Mr Salam led the National Football Team of the country in many international tournaments. He played for Mohammedan Sporting Club for many years as a player as well as a captain. His record of scoring 27 goals in a single season in the National Football League of Bangladesh is still intact. After retiring as a professional player, Mr Salam has not isolated himself from football. He contributed a lot earlier to the development of football as the Sports Secretary of Mohammedan Sporting Club. His professionalism, dedication and laudable personality made him currently elected as a Senior Vice President of Bangladesh Football Federation. Mr Salam is a member of all the elite clubs in Dhaka. In recognition of his great contribution and talent he has been honored with the National Sports Award by the Ministry of youth and sports.
His social commitments are also notable. He has undertaken various social-welfare initiatives for the less fortunate people. He has made immense contributions to the establishment of many Schools, Colleges and Mosques throughout the Country.
Mr Abdus Salam Murshedy, speaking with Ms Madhu Soni, Sr Editor & Correspondent-Face2Face, touches upon the factors boosting Bangladeshi RMG sector.
Mr Murshedy, it is an opportunity to compere Face2Face talk with you. You are a known figure for textile and garment verticals. However, knowing about your fame in football sports too makes me curious to ask you to relate your Sportmanship to Enterpreneurship?
I am proud to be a sportsman first. I strongly believe my sportsman character has played a prominent role in today's success as an entrepreneur. During the tenure of my sportsman career, with the name and fame as one of the best national soccer player, I have come into close contact with number of leading businessmen of the country patronizing the sports. I got inspired with and thereafter started my career as a businessman with my partner who is also a diehard patron of sports. Still I am closely related with sports and contributing as much as possible for upliftment and wellbeing of sports of the country.
That's interesting. Also having spent years being associated to textile and clothing industry longly, how would you like to narrate happenings therein globally?
Worldwide economic recession, very specifically in USA and EU countries, should have direct impact on our textile and clothing industries. USA and EU countries still have unemployment problem. We have seen the cotton market reach at its high. For all these, alongside, very recent tsunami in Japan certainly caused shrinkage in world market. Despite of all those negative situations our textile and clothing industries marked significant 42% growth in this fiscal year over the last year. This has become possible only for relentless efforts and proper steps of the government and the entrepreneurs together. A total export in textile and clothing industry in this fiscal year is about 18 billion USD.
The performance is definitely noticeable. And, your contribution as former President of BGMEA for around 20 successful years can not be overlooked. So please help us assign all the geographical as well as non-geographical determinants that worked behind?
During my tenure as BGMEA President, alongwith serious global economic recession we faced and still facing shortage of infrastructure facilities in Power, Ports etc. Labour unrest and implementation of new national pay scale deteriorates the position further. Moreover, because of worldwide recession the prices have also dropped significantly. The entrepreneurs have successfully overcome and addressed the above situation, and maintained the buyer's commitment properly by making the shipment by air also even at a loss of the consignment. This way entrepreneur of this part has earned the confidence of the buyer.
And, where does Envoy Group become envy of its myriad contenders?
Envoy Group has started its journey in 1984 with one Garment unit with more or less 300 workers. Now the Group has 14 Garment units with more than 15,000 workers. Besides RMG Sector, the Group has expanded in Textiles, Real Estate & Developer, IT Technology, International Trading, Freight Forwarding, Hotel, Banking & Financial Institutions. The management believes in corporate culture, maintains business ethics and performing social responsibilities. All these achievements make Envoy Group different from others.
For our million plus visitors and members, we would also request you to please bring out noteworthy movements as well as fast facts in Bangladeshi denim segment.
Bangladesh is traditionally known for its capability in garment manufacturing. Bangladesh consumes approx 375 million yards per annum. This was imported from countries like China, India, Indonesia and Pakistan to name a few. However, the Bangladeshi Denim manufacturing segment has seen a significant growth in the last 5 to 6 years. The growth is approx. 500%.The current local capacity is 180 million yards per annum. We expect this to increase by an additional 100 million yards in the next couple of years.
Textile industry in Bangladesh has also witnessed a vital trade talk between Commerce Ministers of India and Bangladesh. How will you comment on this event?
The recent visit of Commerce Minister of India was of course a very important step for development of trade in between the countries. The trade talk, we hope, will expand our opportunities and help to reduce huge trade gap in between the countries. Present trade gap is more than USD 2.00 billion. As a friend, neighbor and member of SAARC countries we expect more relaxation in exports from Bangladesh. In clothing sector India's own demand is now more than USD 30.00 billion. Middle class in India is now one of the highest in the world. The demand is growing day by day. Bangladesh is the lone country to meet up the huge demand with reasonable cost. I think there should not be any restriction in this sector for our common interest.
In line to trade policies, Turkey has declared safe guard duty. How is it concerning you as a former voice of industry as well as present eminent exporter group?
Imposition of Safe Guard Duty by Turkey is of course a matter of concern. For Developed Countries the Safe Guard Duty is up to 40% and for Least Developed Countries the rate is up to 27%. It is a fact that Turkey is one of our major export destinations. However, we believe that imposition of SGD would have a little impact on our export because of our expertise & effort. We have developed our expertise to overcome the hurdles.
As an ending note, in gratitude for you valued inputs, may I request your word on Envoy's corporate identity in the context of social-environmental responsibility?
Envoy Group as one of the biggest corporate entities in Bangladesh especially in RMG & Textile Sectors plays an important role for economic development of the country and thereby to the society. Envoy Group always believes in maintaining and performing social responsibilities and business ethics. As a part of corporate culture, the Group provides every facility to the employees/workers as are embodied in the concerned laws and regulations from time to time. The Group is actively connected with various social welfare activities in the country.
