Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- A two-day denim exposition began in the capital Dhaka on Wednesday aiming to attract global buyers in the clothing sub-sector.
Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pankaj Saran inaugurated the ‘Denim and Jeans Expo’ at a city hotel. President of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Md Atiqul Islam was also present in the opening function.
The Indian envoy lauded the growth of the country’s readymade garment (RMG) sector, and said “The future of Bangladesh’s garment and textile industry is very bright.”
Bangladesh is a “very serious player” in the global clothing market, given its expertise and quality and can’t be ignored, he noted.
The BGMEA president, citing the Rana Plaza building collapse, said this is a unique example of how the sector can re-emerge as vibrant after experiencing a disaster that had badly dented the image of the country.
“Bangladesh is the second largest denim apparel manufacturing country in the world after China. Such an event was a must for Bangladesh as the country got introduced worldwide as Denim and jeans producing country,” Sandeep Agarwal, the founder of the Denimsandjeans.com Bangladesh show said.
He said the event is an extension of the last event and it has brought all who are involved in the area under the same roof.
In 2013, Bangladesh exported about 74 million pieces of denim apparel to the US market and around 140 million pieces of jeans to Europe, according to Denimsandjeans.com.
Bangladesh was also the largest exporter of men’s jeans to Europe in 2013 with 89 million pieces compared to 65 million from China.
Denim apparel exports from Bangladesh surged 11.48 per cent to the US in 2013, compared to that of 2012 and to the EU by 19.65 per cent during the same period.
A total of 24 companies from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Germany, China and Brazil are taking part in the show.
BBN/SSR/AD-16Oct14-12:26 pm (BST)
