Bangladesh knitters can expect large numbers of international buyers this year, according to two of the country’s leading trade bodies who are organising important garment fairs for this November.

The Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) is organising its 5th Knitexpo-09, which will run from 2-4 November at the Dhaka Sheraton Hotel. Fazlul Hoque, the BKMEA President, recently visited Japan and Hong Kong to invite knitwear and knitted goods buyers to participate in the event. Mr Hoque told Bagladesh’s The Daily Star, that this year's Knitexpo will be the biggest event so far, as eighty international buyers have already confirmed their participation and that the number of such foreign participants would exceed one hundred. Mr Hoque is said to be also visiting South Africa and Botswana to invite buyers and investors to visit Bangladesh.

Bangladesh exported knitwear to the value of $6.429 billion in the 2008-09 fiscal-year showing a 16.21 percent growth over the same period a year earlier. During the same period, the country also exported woven items worth $5.918 billion registering a 14.54 percent growth, the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) says. Buyers have flocked to Bangladesh recently to take advantage of low prices during the current economic downturn.

BATEXPO-09 will also be held on November 5-7 under the patronage of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA). “We expect buyers in large number this time because Bangladesh is now considered a lucrative place for global apparel merchandisers,” BGMEA President Abdus Salam Murshedy told The Daily Star.

Cheap basic apparel products are expected to attract new buyers from Japan, South Africa, Mexico and Brazil to the annual exposition this time. Countries such as USA, EU, Australia, Canada, China and India are also expected to participate in the show and according to organisers, this year the foreign buyers have already confirmed eleven stands to participate in the 20th BATEXPO which will be held at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel.

Source: The Daily Star