Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)-For the first time, the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) will organise the 25th edition of Bangladesh Apparel and Textile Exhibition (BATEXPO) outside Bangladesh.

BATEXPO-2014 will take place in Paris from September 16-18, 2014, reports Fibre2fashion.

The event is expected to see participation of 75 BGMEA companies and 25 non-BGMEA member companies.

BGMEA organises the annual event as part of its promotional activities to increase export destinations for Bangladeshi readymade garments.

Paris was chosen for this year’s three-day expo as France can act as a gateway to other European countries as well as to Latin American countries like Argentina and Brazil.

On the sidelines of the exhibition, BGMEA will organise a seminar focusing on the prospects of Bangladesh’s apparel industry.

Clothing exports from Bangladesh increased by 14.83 percent to US$ 22.178 billion during July-May 2013-14, as per the data from the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB).

Of this, exports to France fetched $1.396 billion, with knitwear contributing $869 million and woven garments accounting for the remaining $527 million.

BBN/ANS-08July14-12:40pm (BST)