A four-day fair on readymade garments accessories, yarn and fabrics will begin Wednesday in the city to inject new momentum into the sector. Three concurrent events namely 16th Garment and Allied Machinery Trade Show, 8th Garments Accessories and Packaging Exposition (GAP Expo 2017) and Eighth Yarn and Fabrics Sourcing Fair 2017 will take place under one roof at the International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB) in the city. This was announced at a press conference at a city hotel Sunday. ASK Trade and Exhibitions Pvt Limited and Zakaria Trade and Fair International and Bangladesh Garments Accessories and Packaging Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGAPMEA) are jointly organising the Garmentech Bangladesh 2017. BGAPMEA President Abdul Kader Khan and directors of ASK Trade Nanda Gopal K and Tipu Sultan Bhuiyan attended the press conference, among others. Speaking at the press conference, Abdul Kader Khan said the upcoming trade shows would help the country’s RMG manufacturers achieve the $50 billion exports target within 2021. “To this end, garments accessories manufacturers will have to earn $18 billion from exports,” he said. The local manufacturers earned $6.12 billion by exporting garment accessories in the fiscal year (FY) 2015-16, the BGAPMEA president said, adding the sector needed the government’s policy support to help boost the earnings. “Like other export-oriented industries, the government should provide policy support for developing infrastructure facilities and reducing bank interest rate and providing cash incentives,” he said. He expressed the hope that the expos will help promote the country’s apparel business and help draw the attention of the policymakers. According to the organisers, the expo will remain open to the visitors from 11.00am to 7.00pm at free of charges. Some 450 textiles and garment-related local and international companies representing 24 countries including the US, the United Kingdom, China, India, Indonesia, Germany and Italy will take part in the fairs. They will showcase readymade garment, textiles and yarn-related new technology, products and services. Several seminars and discussion meetings will also be organised on the expo premises. Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed is expected to inaugurate the expo as the chief guest, while Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Mayor Annisul Huq will attend the opening ceremony as the special guest.
