CEO - Royal Leather Industries Pakistan

EVOLVE: Please share something about yourself, a brief overview of your professional journey? 

Agha Saiddain: I have done MBA from Punjab University and then decided not to leave Lahore. After completing LLB and MBA, an immensely good job opportunity fell into my lap; it was from PIA. After having my mind made up of not leaving Lahore, I initiated a project back in the 70s for Ammar Textiles, which touched the heights of success but unfortunately they could not maintain the standard. They were in competition with a company for which I suggested they join knitwear industry-keeping in view that Pakistan is a cotton based country which can provide them with several breakthroughs. From there I decided to take on a joint venture with somebody. Later, I started off with the business of leather tannery and leather garment units.

EVOLVE: Kindly tell our readers about the relationship between Royal Leather and IKEA? 

Agha Saiddain: Since 1991, IKEA Sweden has been the oldest partner of Royal Leather. Our first meeting was in Hong Kong with Mr. Nicholas. I never knew it was the world's largest home furnishing company with 280 stores all over the world. Later I was invited by him to Sweden and we began sampling. We began in 1991 and it took us almost a year to start it off properly and from 1992 we started working together and started receiving formal orders. Royal Leather Industries is the only company who has an outstanding record of being an uninterrupted supplier of IKEA in the whole sub-continent India Pakistan and South Asia with a shortest lead time and 100% delivery security. A lot many could not get through with IKEA but we learned the formula to work with them and that is to be true with them-which we proved to be one and therefore we are their only eye way approved leather supplier. It’s a pride for Pakistan as we, Royal Leathers, was awarded Asia's No. 1 Tannery of the year award in 2013 by the International Council of Tanners in Hong Kong. Soon after that, we were awarded with the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) award by the Prime Minister of Pakistan.

EVOLVE: What challenges tannery industry is facing in Pakistan and how are you coping with them?

Agha Saiddain: The two major challenges that the industry is facing at large are: 

• Raw material 
• Government

Talking about raw material, we further faced challenges in terms of animal dermatology diseases and found out that they were never taken into consideration in our livestock. There are a number of skin diseases and are infectious which made me ponder the fact that it will spread. A comprehensive research on this matter was conducted and later we signed MOUs for this system’s betterment. Second challenge is Economic Managers of Pakistan. As Pakistanis, we have not understood this fact as of yet that the products that we are exporting should be tax-free. Our government is not treating export on priority basis and also the working capital of almost all the institutions is lying with our government which should be released.

EVOLVE: What sets Royal Leather apart from its competitors? 

Agha Saiddain: It is all about the WAY you manage things. Leather is basically not our family business and unlike other traditional tanneries; I have managed it in a very different manner. The first individual treatment plant in any tannery in Pakistan belongs to us. I have, as a code of conduct, invested in the system in order to keep the environment healthy which helped me in earning a fair image in the international industry and therefore Royal Leather is famous for dealing in fair wages among various multinationals that are around. 

EVOLVE: What are the important benchmarks if kept in the right direction can help any country to attain success? 

Agha Saiddain: I would like to quote IKEA’s example here, that if one needs to learn business sustainability, IKEA is the best model for it. They believe in playing it fair with anyone and everyone. Moreover, we should look around on a global level, and provide the world with basic necessities, be fair with everyone, CSR & best practices should be incorporated; energy conservation and product conservation are the benchmarks we need to look upon.

EVOLVE: How do you balance pursuing opportunities and maintaining focus? 

Agha Saiddain: To me, every challenge is an opportunity. Whenever you come across a challenge, you need to deal with it as per the requirements of the modern civilized era. 

EVOLVE: Is there any company that has ever impressed you? 

Agha Saiddain: In Pakistan, if anybody has impressed me, it’s the Packages Mall by Syed Babar Ali. He has run this business magnificently and I really appreciate his efforts. 

EVOLVE: What’s the recipe to achieve long term success? 

Agha Saiddain: I have noticed that people run after money, which I believe is wrong. If you run after money, you can never achieve long term success. I think improvement, diversification of the product and market is the key for long term success for which you need creative people; which are many in number basically. Yet, most importantly you require innovative people who may convert creative ideas into practices. 

EVOLVE: Any message for the readers of EVOLVE? 

Agha Saiddain: For readers my general message is that do not ever run after money. Improve your mental faculties and money will eventually run after you.