Stock lot sellers and garment accessories providers have reported sluggish sales at the 24th Bangladesh Apparel and Textile Exposition (Batexpo) 2013.
Organised by Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), the three-day Batexpo 2013 was launched on Thursday to showcase local apparel products to international buyers.
“We did not get our desired response from the buyers as most of the Indian and Sri Lankan buyers are on vacation to enjoy Durga Puja,” said Md Tasrik Imam, a senior marketing executive for Montrims Limited, adding that the sellers would have seen a better response if BGMEA had arranged the fair for after Eid.
“We got a meagre response from foreign buyers as the representatives of buying houses, who work as middlemen, are very busy ahead of Eid-ul-Azha and pre-winter shipment,” said Md Mahbub Hosain, a merchandiser of Galpex Limited.
“Business was satisfactory but it could have been better,” said Md Mahbub Alam, general manager sales of Cosmo Group, which sells garments accessories like gum tapes, cardboard boxes, printed labels, TTR ribbons and backboards.
A salesman for the Sweater Fashion stall at the show said stock lot sales orders were lower than last year. “This year we got more domestic buyers than foreigners,” he added.
At Batexpo 2012, around 159 apparel buyers and 2,846 representatives from foreign and local buyers attended, placing spot orders worth about US$62m, of which $1.42m came from spot lot sale.
This time, a total of 80 stalls are showcasing products, of which 20 are occupied by foreign apparel makers, while domestic apparel manufacturers have put their products on display at 60 stalls. As of now, 65 international buyers from 18 countries are participating.
BGMEA Vice President Reaz Bin Mahmood told the Dhaka Tribune that participant flow was low due to political unrest.
“We are hopeful (that) the show will help Bangladesh rebuild its image, as it is aimed at giving a positive idea about the RMG sector,” he said.
BGMEA President Atiqul Islam on October 6 said BGMEA had decided to arrange Batexpo a month earlier than usual due to the upcoming election, saying foreign buyers were fearing political unrest.
He also said there were huge stock lots as buyers had cancelled orders due to reasons various including economic slowdown.
“We have put emphasis on displaying ready stock apparels as a number of entrepreneurs requested for the arrangement of spot sale,” he said.
