Bangladeshi textile makers received huge responses from international brands and retailers at Heimtextil fair, the world’s largest home textile exhibition that took place in Frankfurt in Germany recently.A total of 21 home textile companies from Bangladesh participated in the four-day international fair held on January 8-11, 2019. Messe Frankfurt, one of the largest trade fair companies in the world, has been organising the event since 1971.Heimtextil is a global mini market, where manufacturers of home textile and home decor exhibit their latest products, according to the organiser.“We received getting very good responses from buyers. Most of customers in the EU visited our stalls,” said Shah S Alam, Maniging Director of Unialliance textiles ltd, a Gazipur based factory.“Everyone enjoyed the fair and we also became familiar with new buyers,” said Alam, also a senior Vice President of Bangladesh Terry towel and linen manufacturers and Exporters Association (BTTLMEA).In fact, this year’s interest was higher than the last year; he said adding that the fair was a good opportunity to network with European retailers. Besides, the fair provided us a big opportunity to connect with a number of USA, Australian and South American buyers, he added.The EU is the largest market for Bangladeshi home textile makers,” Alam said adding that 90 percent of the company’s, participated the fair, export receipts come from EU region. Unialliance exported $30 million worth of home textile in the last year said Shah S Alam.Almost all the Bangladeshi participants echoed similar views. They received overwhelming response from retailers from Germany, the second largest export destination for Bangladesh after the US.This correspondent has found Bangladeshi companies were passing very tight schedules and meeting with their running customers to expand business and develop new customer for start business.Most of new buyers are coming to Bangladeshi stalls to explore strengths of products and textile makers capacity to produce high value products.Presentation is the most important factor for attracting buyers, said Abu Sayem Rana, deputy general manager for marketing at Zaber & Zubair Fabrics Ltd, a concern of Noman Group. “Everyone comes here with their new innovations following upcoming global trends, buyers are also looking for new products” he added.India and Pakistan were our main competitors in home textile segment at global market adding that Saad Musa Group director Shaikh Hasan Zaman Bangladeshi home textile makers are facing challenges for BD currency becomes against USA dollars, while indian and Pakistani home textile makers are enjoying chance of currency devaluation, due to their currencies are weak against dollar.
