China’s manufacturing ecosystem continues to play a pivotal role in shaping global consumer markets, offering advanced production capabilities, scale, and innovation that businesses worldwide are increasingly leveraging to meet local demand. Senior executives from Pakistan’s home retail sector say their recent engagements across China have reinforced the importance of innovation-led sourcing and stronger cross-border supply chain collaboration.

Shiza Danish, Chief Operating Officer of Habitt, one of Pakistan’s leading home retail brands, recently concluded an extensive sourcing and market assessment visit across China, aimed at identifying advanced machinery, innovative designs, and high-quality production solutions to strengthen product offerings for customers in Pakistan, Gwadar Pro reported on Monday. During the visit, Danish and her team explored major manufacturing clusters, furniture markets, and supplier facilities, engaging closely with world-class manufacturers and technology providers.

The trip involved detailed evaluations of modern production lines, automation systems, and quality control mechanisms that define China’s leadership in industrial efficiency. “China continues to set the pace in innovation, efficiency, and scale,” Danish said, adding that firsthand exposure to smart manufacturing processes and advanced machinery reinforced her commitment to sourcing solutions that ensure consistent quality and long-term reliability. According to the report, the visit also highlighted growing opportunities for deeper cooperation between China and Pakistan in the furniture and home solutions sector.

With Pakistan’s expanding urban population and rising demand for modern, affordable, and durable furniture, industry experts say Chinese manufacturers are well positioned to serve as strategic partners for Pakistani retailers and producers. Analysts note that cooperation can extend beyond traditional imports to include joint ventures, technology transfer, local assembly units, and skills development.

By leveraging China’s advanced manufacturing capabilities and Pakistan’s growing consumer base and retail networks, both countries can develop a more integrated furniture value chain. A key focus of the visit was Foshan, located about an hour from Guangzhou and widely recognised as the world’s largest furniture market. The city functions as a complete furniture ecosystem, offering extensive design options, customisation capabilities, and large-scale export solutions.

Afaque Hussain Rizvi, Head of Supply Chain at Habitt, said that visiting Foshan reshaped his understanding of global sourcing and supply chain dynamics. “Walking through the world’s largest furniture market felt like stepping into an endless universe of design, materials, and ideas. Even after a full day of walking, you’ve barely covered five percent of it,” he said.

The delegation also visited one of the company’s key supplier factories to assess recent technological advancements in production and quality control. Rizvi noted that observing automation systems, precision cutting technology, and modern finishing techniques firsthand demonstrated how rapidly manufacturing is evolving. “Seeing these advancements up close reinforced how critical it is to stay aligned with innovation to ensure quality, efficiency, and long-term competitiveness,” he added.

China’s furniture market reflects the scale of the opportunity. Valued at approximately USD 170 billion in 2024, the sector is projected to grow to USD 279.45 billion by 2032, with a compound annual growth rate of 5.80 percent between 2026 and 2032. Industry observers believe stronger China–Pakistan trade linkages in this segment could help Pakistan modernise its furniture industry while providing Chinese manufacturers access to a fast-growing South Asian market.

Danish said strengthening supplier partnerships and aligning with technology-driven manufacturers remain central to the company’s strategy. She added that the team has returned from China energised and focused on translating global best practices into locally relevant solutions, reinforcing Habitt’s commitment to delivering higher-quality products to Pakistani consumers.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP) — Pak-China