Denim expo kicks off amid high hopes
A denim exposition began in Dhaka yesterday to showcase denim products to the business community and international retailers.
Denim Expert Ltd based in Karnaphuli Export Processing Zone in Chittagong has organised the show.
The two-day fair is being held at Radisson hotel in Dhaka, participated by 50 companies -- 18 from Bangladesh and the rest from 14 other countries.
At the inauguration, Gerben de Jong, ambassador of the Netherlands, said Bangladesh is a major player in denim worldwide. The country might be a one-stop source for denim products for international vendors and retailers, he added.
“The expo is sending out a positive sign to the world that Bangladesh is not a place for tragic incidents, but a good source of garment items,” said Jong.
Recently, at the first review meeting of the Sustainability Compact in the Belgian capital of Brussels, everybody widely recognised the progress that Bangladesh made in workplace safety after the Rana Plaza building collapse in April last year, he said.
Jong was one of the participants in the review meeting. After the Rana Plaza building collapse, Bangladesh signed the Sustainability Compact with the EU involving International Labour Organisation (ILO) in Geneva on July 8 last year. Bangladesh made promises to improve workplace safety, labour rights and present responsible business behaviour.
“Much progress has been made in fire and building safety in the country in the last one year,” he said.
Such an expo is a message to people worldwide that Bangladesh is a place for garment business, said Atiqul Islam, president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association.
“The Rana Plaza incident does not reflect the entire industry. Bangladesh has done a good job in showcasing the country's strengths in the sector,” he said.
“It is a big day for me as we can host such a major international event here. It is a non-profit expo and I believe, it will boost the country's image,” said Mostafiz Uddin, managing director of Denim Expert Ltd.
With growing global demand, local entrepreneurs are investing heavily in denim, as at least six new factories are coming into operation by the yearend, industry insiders said.
Bangladesh has 25 denim factories that produce around 20 million yards of denim fabric a month. Total investment in the sub-sector stands at Tk 6,500 crore.
The country's share in the $60-billion global market is still insignificant at around $600 million a year.
Bangladeshi denim fabric makers meet 40 percent of the local demand by exporters; imports account for the rest.
Companies from Germany, the US, Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey, Japan, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Brazil and Thailand are participating in the show.
Bangladeshi entrepreneurs supply denim to major retailers and brands, including H&M, Uniqlo, Levis, Nike, Tesco, Wrangler, s.Oliver, Hugo Boss, Puma, Primark, JC Penney, C&A, Tommy Hilfiger, Inditex, Walmart, M&S, Calvin Klein, Diesel, Gap, Channel, Dior and G-Star.
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