The 10th edition of garment accessories and packaging exposition (GAPEXPO) began in the capital, Dhaka, on Thursday.Industries minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun inaugurated the four-day show at the International Convention City, Bashundhara.Three other events – 18th edition of GARMENTECH Bangladesh 2019, 10th edition of the International Yarn and Fabrics Sourcing Fair- 2019 and second edition of Bangladesh Printing and Packaging Expo 2019 — also started at the same venue and at the same time.Bangladesh Garments Accessories and Packaging Manufacturers and Exporters Association in association with ASK Trade & Exhibitions Pvt Ltd and Zakaria Trade and Fair International is organising the expositions to offer a complete sourcing platform for the readymade garment exporters under one roof.The industries minister assured that the government would provide all-out support to the accessories and packaging manufacturers so that the sector can reach their $12-billion export target by 2021.He also assured them of addressing the issues including transferring the full authority to issue utilisation permission to BGAPMEA within the shortest possible time.Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry president Md Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin said that businesspeople wanted a predictable policy and rate of energy with smooth and quality supply for a long-term period to attain the required economic development of the country.BGAPMEA president Abdul Kader Khan sought government policy support including low-cost fund and incentives to contribute more to attain $50-billion export target from apparel sector by 2021.‘Bangladesh government has set target to earn $50 billion from the apparel sector by 2021 and we are contributing $7.10 billion to the garment export earnings of the country. If the government provides policy support we will be able to contribute over $12 billion by 2021 to attain the overall export target,’ he said.A total of 510 companies from more than 24 countries including China, India, Turkey, Sri Lanka, Italy, the USA, the UK and Germany are displaying their products at the shows, organisers said.The latest sewing, knitting, embroidery, laundry, finishing, dyeing, CAD/CAM, printing, cutting, spreading machinery from leading companies from across the world are being displayed at the GARMENTECH.The International Yarn and Fabrics Sourcing Fair has the latest collection of natural and synthetic yarn and fabric and its blends both for woven and knit sectors.
