An Interview with Mr Haroon Elahi. Managing Director. Nagina Group. Pakistan

TEXtalks: Can you give some pointers on the history of Nagina Group and the capacities of yarn production?
Haroon Elahi: Nagina group of companies was founded in 1967. It has expanded its textile manufacturing operations and has diversified into other sectors, including construction, power, and textiles. The unit group is comprised of two publicly listed spinning textile companies, one weaving company and the textile manufacturing capacity has 100,956 spindles and 340 air-jet looms. The company is expanding further with at least 25,200 spindles in Punjab and 20,000 in Sindh areas.

The Nagina Group has enormously valued its relationship with COTTON USA over the last several decades. The group relies on American supply chain partners to produce high-quality materials for the export market. The group believes that COTTON USA is a preferred natural fiber partner to trust in this significant expansion plan.

TEXtalks: What part does US cotton play and how much cotton is being utilized by Nagina Group on an annual basis?
Haroon Elahi: US cotton plays an essential role in the annual forecast and purchase planning. Cotton Council International (CCI) is the export promotion arm of the US cotton industry.  US cotton being linked to ICE and US cotton is working on the system of premiums and discounts based on supply & demand, quality, and USDA Green Card quality classification system of evaluation creates very exciting market prospect for purchases. The Nagina group is highly dependent on U.S. cotton, but the consumption varies depending upon the international market. USA cotton is the principal support of companies’ global raw material strategy to navigate our consumption requirements.

TEXtalks: What Key Advantages you are availing of by using US Cotton?
Haroon Elahi:  Some of the key advantages of using American cotton are its higher fiber length, sustainability, transparent partnership, and quality. The customers are confident that their cotton is what they required regarding quality and other technical aspects. The green card system, developed by the United States Department of Agriculture, is one of the most sophisticated and cutting-edge evaluation systems for understanding the cotton parameters the customers are always happy with COTTON USA with transparent and trusting relationships.

TEXtalks: How do you see the quality of US Cotton for the production of your yarn or fabric products?
Haroon Elahi:  One of the most critical aspects of using American cotton is the ideal raw material. The barriers to profitability are solved by using U.S. Cotton as less waste, and uniform fiber length makes the industrial production process smooth, with increasing production. Therefore, American cotton is one of the preferred supply solutions for companies.

TEXtalks: With international brands, what is the acceptability of the products that are being manufactured by using US Cotton?
Haroon Elahi: Concerning international brands, American cotton is becoming more acceptable. It is an international market driving product, but its demand is also increasing in Pakistan’s domestic market. US cotton and the COTTON USA™ brand is now gaining consumer preference because it provides value for money, especially in both men’s and women’s luxury retail brands. The increased demand for COTTON USA™ in the domestic market of Pakistan is a tremendous achievement. As far as international brands are concerned, their desire to work with American cotton sourced yarn and fabrics is because of its contamination free nature. However, more work on the branding and marketing for building up the partnerships for USA cotton produced yarns and fabrics is something the Nagina group focuses on working together with CCI (Cotton Council International).

TEXtalks: Do you know the initiative of the US Cotton industry towards sustainability (USCTP)? Your views to supply sustainable products to your customers?
Haroon Elahi: The company has been recently approached to join the USCTP initiative, and we are looking forward to playing our part. Our group considers sustainability and credits the system of CCI. Their mission is to make U.S. cotton the preferred fiber for mills/manufacturers, brands/retailers, and consumers, commanding a value-added premium that delivers profitability across the supply chain and drives export growth of fiber, yarn, and other cotton products. Mr. Haroon Elahi said that if we can create that value chain like the others have done, we will generate the highest value for American cotton’s growth.

TEXtalks: Would you like to give a few words of suggestions or a glimpse into what you would be expecting in the coming future?
Haroon Elahi: Pakistan’s market could be an excellent success for COTTON USA to boost its sales as Pakistan’s textile industry is emerging as one of the largest cotton consumers. To build up the infrastructure or communicative governance between America’s districts that produce cotton and linking them up with the consumption centers in Pakistan will generate the highest value for the American farmers. I do wish success for CCI in upcoming years and I am looking forward to advancing relations between the US cotton industry and Pakistan’s textile industries.