Intertek takes pride in its unwavering commitment to upholding the highest standards of quality, safety, sustainability and compliance across diverse industries. Intertek has set the benchmark for Assurance solutions in Bangladesh. While it caters to diverse sectors such as textiles, garments, leather, footwear, food, petroleum, petrochemicals, agricultural products, pre-shipment inspection (in collaboration with the government), industrial technical services, high-end engineering projects, government initiatives and international systems certifications, its Softlines business line constitutes the majority of its overall business in the country.
Recently, Team Apparel Resources sat down with Neyamul Hasan, Country Managing Director, Intertek Bangladesh to discuss some of the dynamics of the current market as well as Intertek’s own development inside the country. Here are some excerpts from their conversation.
AR: Congratulations on the successful run of your Gazipur facility! How will it help the factories?
Neyamul: Thank you! Over the past decade, we have seen a growing shift of factories from Dhaka to Gazipur as companies seek to avoid the increasingly challenging traffic conditions in the capital. This led us to investment in the development of our operational laboratory in Gazipur, a state-of-the-art building spread across 10 floors, which has played a pivotal role in reducing lead times for our valued customers. When they request sample pickups from their premises, we strive to initiate testing within an hour. This efficiency translates to saving at least one day from their total lead time, compared to the previous 5 to 10 hours it used to take.
In addition to laboratory testing, we also provide Inspection and Audit support from this location, with same-day support. This has allowed us to further strengthen our reputation in Bangladesh and build market share.
AR: Can you discuss how initiatives such as Textile Exchange and GOTS contribute to industry transformation and responsible supply networks?
Neyamul: Given the heightened end-consumer expectations, sustainability isn’t just a trend – it’s the new normal. But it’s not just individuals; companies are now also actively participating in the race to Net Zero.
Initiatives like Textile Exchange and GOTS are part of this trend, helping to accelerate the transformation of the textile industry and promote more responsible practices, from the farm up to the brand level. While GOTS and Textile Exchange cover organic cotton, Textile Exchange also supports recycled fibres from textile, leather, paper, plastic, metal products and animal fibres. They champion sustainable practices across the entire supply chain and through their chain of custody, ensuring traceability and encouraging sustainability practices.
To that extent, Intertek has made significant investments in developing its resources in Bangladesh to support rising demand for market-leading Textile Exchange and GOTS traceability audits and certification.
AR: Brands expect a quick turnover from manufacturers! How do you support to ensure speeding up the process?
Neyamul: At Intertek, we bring quality, safety and sustainability to life with passion, pace and precision. Our market leading Total Quality Assurance (TQA) solutions enable our clients to resolve the complex quality assurance challenges they face at every stage in their supply chain, allowing them to ensure their products are safe, sustainably produced and meet the standards required to be successfully brought to market. We take a proactive, science-based approach to certification, with our teams of technical experts conducting a wide range of tests and inspections from production right through to market that allow our clients to operate with significantly shorter lead times.
AR: How does Inlight contribute to better understanding and managing supply chain risks for global companies?
Neyamul: Inlight, our supply chain risk management solution, plays a critical role in enhancing transparency and resilience. In an increasingly complex and interconnected world, Inlight provides companies with access to data analytics and predictive insights which mean they can identify and mitigate potential risks related to compliance, quality or sustainability. By leveraging our unrivalled science-based expertise, Inlight empowers our clients to make more informed decisions and successfully navigate complexity at a global scale, unlocking new growth opportunities in the process.
AR: What services do you provide around sustainability?
Neyamul: We offer a range of solutions to address customer needs related to sustainability. These encompass Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Data and Reporting, ESG Strategic Development Advisory, Corporate Sustainability Certification and Industry-Specific Solutions.
Leveraging our extensive experience in chemical management, Intertek ToxClear is an innovative digital chemical management platform through which fashion brands can detox their supply chains by reducing hazardous chemicals used in the input, process and output stages. This allows brands to better manage and mitigate risks across their supply chains by monitoring chemical usage in production and by suppliers.
| At Intertek, we bring quality, safety and sustainability to life with passion, pace and precision. Our market leading Total Quality Assurance (TQA) solutions enable our clients to resolve the complex quality assurance challenges they face at every stage in their supply chain, allowing them to ensure their products are safe, sustainably produced and meet the standards required to be successfully brought to market. |
AR: You are doing a lot for the industry. What are the sustainability initiatives you have taken in your organisation?
Neyamul: At Intertek, sustainability is central to everything we do. This is more than an abstract commitment. As an organisation, we support a range of initiatives from rainwater harvesting to effluent treatment plants that are designed to make a practical impact in terms of our contribution to the circular economy. We have also taken steps to manage our energy usage by investing in our fantastic facilities, introducing LED lighting, energy-saving appliances and smart controls across all our sites and by adopting incredible new solar power technology to reduce our reliance on conventional energy sources. These collective efforts propel us toward a greener, more sustainable future.
AR: What are your future plans for Bangladesh?
Neyamul: Looking at the future, we are well placed to seize the significant growth opportunities presented by the market in Bangladesh and to give even more clients in the country access to our Amazing ATIC Advantage. Capitalising on the strong partnerships we have with our customers, suppliers, shareholders and communities, our goal is to provide an unrivalled customer service and the very best TQA solutions available.
Stay tuned for more updates and get ready to experience support like never before.
