Bangladesh Apparel and Textile Exposition (BATEXPO), one of the leading trade shows in South Asia, is returning after a long period of time. Organized by the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers Association (BGMEA), this international clothing and textile exhibition is returning after a long period of time.
This exhibition is one of the means to showcase Bangladesh's ready-made garments and textile industry to the world. Buyers from different countries of the world participate in this exhibition.
BGMEA will showcase the progress made in the sector over the past decade in terms of environmentally friendly production systems, workplace safety, labor rights, product diversity and innovation to global buyers. The next edition of BATEXPO will be held in the third week of November. The trade show was last held in October 2013.
One of the main goals of this expo will be to re-establish Bangladesh as a preferred global sourcing hub in the world market by highlighting the progress of Bangladesh's garment sector.
BGMEA first started this event in 1989. At that time, the country's ready-made garment industry was still in its infancy. The main objective of the event was to introduce Bangladesh's garment sector to the international market, attract foreign buyers, increase exports, and strengthen the Made in Bangladesh brand.
BATEXPO has not been held since the 24th edition in 2013. However, BGMEA is going to organize BATEXPO after a gap of more than a decade, at the initiative of the current president.
A delegation of the Board of Directors led by President Mahmud Hasan Khan met Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday. During the meeting, the BGMEA Board of Directors humbly requested the Prime Minister to attend the inaugural ceremony of the international exhibition to be held in November as the chief guest. The Prime Minister graciously agreed to this, BGMEA said.
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association Vice President Md. Rezwan Salim told Daily Industry, "This time we want to break away from the traditional style of organizing Batexpo, where earlier there were various topics like fashion shows and cultural programs. This time we will highlight the achievements of Bangladesh's garment sector in the last decade with more importance."
In the meantime, he said, there will be progress in innovation in sustainable production, circular economy, green manufacturing, workplace safety, labor rights, and product development.
The business leader said that after a long break, the Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association is going to organize BATEXPO again. The organization is planning to organize the exhibition in the third week of November.
Selim, Managing Director of Softex Cotton (Pvt) Limited, said, "Priority will be given to seminars, discussions and knowledge-based events to highlight the capabilities, safety, sustainable production and positive image of the country in the international market of Bangladesh's garment sector."
There are still some negative perceptions about Bangladesh's garment industry in the international market. Many people see Bangladesh as a country that only produces low-cost garments. One of the main goals of this year's BATEXPO is to change this perception and showcase to the world that Bangladesh is capable of producing high-quality, safe and sustainable garments, said Selim.
He said that a large number of factories in Bangladesh are now leading in environmentally friendly production. There are many green factories in Bangladesh that have received lead, platinum, gold and silver ratings. In addition, the seminars organized this time will also discuss the environment, social responsibility, sustainability and circularity.
"This time we want to invite international buyers who are not yet buying garments directly from Bangladesh. For this, there are plans to start a special invitation program around September. In addition, initiatives will be taken to involve international brands, stakeholders and representatives of different countries," he said.
Selim claimed, "The main objective of BATEXPO is to establish Bangladesh as a country of quality and responsible garment production, not a 'country of cheap clothing'. This is being organized to increase confidence in the country's garment sector and create new buyers and markets."
The Rana Plaza building collapse sparked a global debate on workplace safety and workers' rights. However, since that tragic event, the garment industry has invested heavily in improving workplace safety through coordination with international buyers, development partners, and governments.
In addition, major changes have been made to various policies and regulations to protect workers' rights and ensure an improved working environment.
Meanwhile, the country's garment industry has also undergone major changes in green production systems. Currently, Bangladesh has one of the highest number of LEED certified green factories in the world. As a result, Bangladesh is now established as one of the most regulated and sustainable production centers among the world's garment exporting countries.
"We are no longer limited to compliance and sustainable production. We are giving importance to both environmental protection and worker welfare in every aspect of our operations," said Rezwan Salim.
According to the latest data from the industry, currently 284 ready-made garment factories in Bangladesh have been recognized as green factories certified by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). Of these, 121 factories have achieved Platinum, 144 factories Gold, 15 factories Silver and 4 factories Basic level certification.
Batexpo was attended by domestic garment manufacturers, textile companies, suppliers, international brands, buyers and investors. It served as an important platform for direct communication between buyers and sellers, creating new business opportunities and showcasing the capabilities of the Bangladeshi garment industry.
