The New Nation - Internet Edition

SQ Group, country's largest supplier of Sweaters, and Crystal Martin Knitwear Limited, a garment manufacturer based in the United Kingdom have formed a joint venture to produce world class sweaters exclusively for Marks & Spencer (M&S).

SQ and Crystal Martin are technology leaders in the field of manufacturing sweaters. Built on equality, this unparalleled supply chain integration is expected to be highly efficient to provide design-to-delivery solutions to its customer M&S.

The joint venture promises to be an exciting development as it will be the first Eco-friendly "Green" manufacturing plant in the world to produce sweaters.

With an estimated investment of US$ 6.5 million, the factory will be built on 225,000 square-foot state-of-the-art facility at SQ Supply Chain City situated at Valuka, Mymensingh. This new investment marks Crystal Martin's first strategic partinership in Bangladesh.

SQ Group has been in Sweater manufacturing business for over a decade now, Ghulam Faruq, Chairman of SQ Group, and Lawrence B. Ward, CEO of Crystal Martin Knitwear Limited, signed a MoU to set up the joint venture on November 29, 2007.

Speaking on the initiative, SQ Group Chairman Faruq expressed his views on the project being -An excellent way to kick-off SQ/Crystals' environmental initiatives. It is a proof of our closely aligned values and outlook".

Crystal Martin's CEO Ward said, "we are proud to associate ourselves with M&S. Plan-A through our new Green model".

The Green plant will be operational by December, 2008 with a combined work force of over 4000.