Mayer & Cie is eying to increase its reach in the Pakistan market following its participation in a VDMA event and a positive growth trend emerging from the country’s knitting sector. Pakistan is one of the textile and clothing industry’s largest locations. In cotton production alone, it is a global top five producer with 13 mn bales, and its value chain participation ranges from fibre processing to the end product.
Despite this, Lahore and Karachi are not standard destinations for German textile machinery companies’ travelling salesmen, Mayer & Cie explains.
The German engineering industry association VDMA has set itself the task of changing this State of affairs with a series of business initiation ventures in the country. Mayer & Cie Regional Sales Manager Hardy Bühler was a member of the VDMA delegation at an event in November where the range of companies in attendance and the visionary approaches of young entrepreneurs in Pakistan offered a positive impression of the region’s potential.
The interest in machines made by premium German providers was strong, Bühler thought, as did colleagues from other German firms. “Potential customers appreciate our innovative lead,” he said. “But efficiency and sustainability are also key issues. That is why our Relanit machines, cotton specialists with a very high output and an attractive price-performance ratio, were often discussed.” With these machines, Mayer & Cie. has taken part in the bidding for a large-scale project and hopes to make the running due in part to the Relanit machines’ low yarn waste level. Benefits in consumables sustainability are delivered by the Senso Blue RS oiler, which reduces the use of fresh needle oil.
Delegation members felt the timing was astute, given that both the investment climate and the security situation have improved in Pakistan. Thanks to China’s Silk Road project, the country’s infrastructure is being upgraded while Pakistan also benefits from the EU’s GSP Plus scheme, which provides for customs easements.
Circular knitting machine man Bühler’s summary is correspondingly positive. “Irrespective of the current investment backlog,” he said, “Pakistan seems to offer stable medium-term growth rates. That should be ensured by the transfer of textile production from China to Bangladesh and Pakistan.”
