The 24th Bangladesh Apparel and Textile Exposition-2013 ended on Saturday with spot order falling as global buyers gave the textile exposition the cold shoulder.
Organisers and participants of the three-day event said the turnout of global buyers was thin this year amid political uncertainty and ahead of Durga Puja and Eid-ul-Azha vacations.
‘The turnout of global buyers was thin as they are concerned over the political unrest in the run up to the next general elections in the country,’ Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association vice-president Shahidullah Azim told New Age.
He said they kept this year’s arrangement small, keeping in mind the tragic Rana Plaza incident.
Mohammad Delwar Hossain, a senior marketing officer of Beximco Textiles, said the turnout of visitors in this year’s exposition was low.
‘Though the presence of buyers in the Batexpo was very thin, but it would not affect export order in the sector as global buyers come here because of low prices of apparel products,’ he said.
Delwar said the ongoing political unrest and upcoming Eid vacation were the main reasons for low turnout of buyers.
Mahfuzul Haque Bhayian, assistant general manager of Montrims Ltd, an accessories producing industry, said that it was not right time to hold the exposition as buyers knew that the factories in Bangladesh would remain closed for seven days on Eid vacation.
‘So they were not interested to come in Bangladesh in this time.’
He said that his factory was yet to receive any spot order in the exposition but some foreign buyers visited the stall in the closing day.
Uniglory Accessories Ltd general manager Sayed Ziaul Haque said the presence of global buyers was lower due to political uncertainty in Bangladesh.
He said that the export earnings of garment industry would increase in the coming days but the three-day event failed to achieve its target due to a lack of proper publicity for the fair in home and aboard.
BGMEA vice-president (finance) Reaz-Bin-Mahmood said the turnout of the buyers and visitors was a bit low as the global buyers remained cautious ahead of the national elections.
He said the spot orders in the exposition might fall.
-With New Age input
