MAS Fabric Park strengthens apparel sector, competes with China

by Surekha Galagoda

MAS Fabric Park (MFP), the world's first environmental sustainable apparel and Fabric Park which accommodates the first warp knit project in South Asia was opened by President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Thulhiriya on Friday.

Owned by Preferred partner and supplier for the world's leading brands in intimates and sportswear MAS Holdings, the first project at the premises is Asia's first high quality warp knit operation DOGIFA.

It is a joint venture between global warp knit specialists Dogi International fabrics (brand owner of Dogi, Penn and EFA) of Spain and MAS Holdings with a USD 30Mn investment.

The facility is the first high-quality warp knit operation in South Asia which will cater to the increased demand for warp knit fabric in the region driven by the growth in Intimate Apparel, Swimwear and Sportswear markets.

The project was important because it completed the final missing link in our supply chain which will help us compete with China, said CEO MFP Dulindra Fernando.

He said we export more than China to most of the top brands in the world and imported all our requirements as the warp knit fabric was not available locally. Therefore launching this project in Sri Lanka will strengthen the apparel sector and help us compete with China.

The addition of DOGIFA to Sri Lanka's supply chain portfolio increases the competitiveness of the local industry, while its strategic location at MFP adds value with a two-hour access to all major garment manufacturers catering to international markets.

Spanning across 165 acres MFP at full capacity it will house 10 facilities and is designed to attract textiles, accessories and apparel manufacturers into Sri Lanka, thereby positioning the country's apparel sector as a one-stop-shop for apparel solutions.

He said that some of the other projects under way at MFP include MAS Intimates Thurulie - South Asia's first Green intimate apparel manufacturing facility catering exclusively to Marks & Spencer (UK), Textprint Lanka, a joint venture fashion textile printing facility between Textprint SA (Spain) and MAS Holdings and BAM Knitting (Pvt) Ltd. - the specialist knitting arm of BAM Holdings PLC specialising in knitted collars, cuffs and hems.

MAS Intimate Thurulie, Asia's first green lingerie factory, the zero emission green factory will invest US$ 5 mln and at full capacity provide employment to 1,200 people.

He said that the MFP has three specific components which includes the Industrial Park as a business hub, MAS Institute of Management Technology (MIMT) to train people in the Apparel and IT sector and "Thirasaragama" where people who are employed in the Park live. MFP provides accommodation for all employees in the form of dormitories and villas. Thirasaragama is complete with healthcare and sports facilities, said Fernando.

He said that all companies which are established in the park are given facilities such as chemical treatment of effluent, chemical and biological treatment of water steam on the tap, compressed air, centralised warehousing and logistics and outsourced accounting and Human resource facilities.

Fabric manufacturing is considered pollutive and therefore every fabric manufacturer is expected to have a fabric treatment facility but at MFP fabric manufacturers can treat their fabric and send the waste water back to the system as we have environment friendly technology for effluent treatment and the byproducts are compost fertiliser and bio gas for cooking purposes in the kitchen.

Fernando said that MAS Holdings has invested US$ 25 million to develop the infrastructure.

MAS has been called upon to invest US$ 100 million within five years but we have already reached US$ 60 million in commitments. He said that MFP will provide 3000-5000 job opportunities within the next five years to the youth of this country and by end 2007 we plan to give employment to about 500 persons.

Fernando said that it is important to have many more industrial parks to compete with China and India and most importantly more of them in the villages.

Outlining the history of the project, Fernando said that Chairman MAS Holdings Mahesh Amalean was interested to get DOGIFA to invest in Sri Lanka and finally after five years of discussions he succeeded.

But we couldn't find a home to locate the factory. We tried to locate the factory in Biyagama and Seethawaka but there wasn't sufficient water and effluent treatment facilities at those places.

When the situation was explained to Minister Rohitha Bogollagama he offered us the Thulhiriya premises which was earlier occupied by Kabool Lanka. Once we visited the site we fell in love with it and since then there was no turning back.

He said "this project has given us first hand experience in small township development and are looking forward to launching more projects in Sri Lanka if we get the right opportunity".

Designed by international experts, MFP conforms to the specifications of the United Nations Environmental Program, Global Compact and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.

MFP is set in leisurely surroundings with a "green" belt to maintain ecological balance and includes provisions for dormitory and housing facilities with a capacity to house 300 persons.

The "green" concept further encompasses an all-round commitment with concern for minimal damage to the green environment in building and road construction, maximisation of natural lighting and ventilation, recycling of waste, rain water harvesting and wetland absorption.

Also in the pipeline are plans for methane extraction from biologically degradable waste for cooking purposes in the canteen.

MFP is a project of MAS Investments, which will manage a similar fabric park in India and operates the MAS Institute of Management and Technology as a centre of excellence encouraging the spirit of innovation.

Based in Spain, DOGI International Fabrics is the largest warp knit fabric manufacturer in the world with manufacturing facilities in Spain, China, Thailand, North Carolina, Germany and the Philippines.

Dogi International Fabrics is the owner of world-renowned brands Dogi, Penn and EFA and are known as one of the most innovative fabric makers in the world. Founded in 1986 as an entrepreneurial venture, MAS currently comprises a portfolio of 28 world-class facilities and design studios across five countries employing over 41,000 people.