The Gapexpo fair 2014, jointly organized by Zakaria Trade & Fair International, ASK Trade and Exhibitions Private Ltd., and BGAPMEA (Bangladesh Garments Accessories and Packaging Manufacturers and Exporters Association) albeit small vis-à-vis last year, made exhibitors happy as they received serious enquiries from the visitors. Apparel Online met a few companies to know what they were exhibiting and what kind of response they fetched… While a majority of the Bangladeshi exhibitors shared that they were exhibiting just to show their presence in the market, the Indian players said that they are looking at growing their business in Bangladesh, so it was important for them to mark their presence.

As per BGAPMEA, accessories and packaging material makers did business worth US $ 4.1 billion from sales to local garment exporters in the last fiscal, and the amount is expected to reach US $ 12 billion in 2018 and US $ 25 billion in 2025. The sector with 1,200 companies now meets almost the entire accessory and packaging needs of the apparel sector and the association is now seeking Government support to flourish the industry further. “We believe the sector will be able to achieve the set target if the Government provides policy support,” stated Rafez Alam Chowdhury, President, BGAPMEA at the press conference held at the fair.

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Dekko  Accessories Ltd.

The company showcased its buttons, both metal and polyester, woven labels, tags, belts and polybags. Belts and screen printed labels were the new attraction at the fair. While interacting with Team AO, Saleh Mujahid, General Manager said, “We don’t expect business, but our presence will generate some good response and create awareness of our company.”

Cosmo Group

Local producer of gum tape, thermal print, and other accessories, Cosmo Group, showcased its new developments in ribbons. Md. Shahriar, Director of the company shared, “We have introduced two new products, TTR Ribbon and App Ink that drew huge attention of the local buyers and we are happy with the overall progress of the fair.”

Index Accessories Ltd.

Exhibiting its woven and printed labels, hand tags, twill & cotton tapes, barcode labels and stickers, woven and leather patches, badge labels, narrow fabrics with prints, ribbon and tapes and ultrasonic cutting labels, Index Accessories’ highlight products were laces and leather patches. Defining its goal in business, C.K. Dey, MD & CEO of the company said, “We give customized solutions to brands and retailers. We constantly try to minimize our costs and lead times by adding state-of-the-art machines to have win-win situation for ourselves and our clients.”

Interlabels Robust Bangladesh

Manufacturers of sequential label (Auto numbering sticker), Interlables stared its own manufacturing in Bangladesh last year. Catering to the RMG sector in Bangladesh, the company so far has no direct nomination by buyers. Kazi Ashraful Hoque Jewel, representing the company says, “Since we have started producing labels in Bangladesh, it has become very cost-effective for us. Currently we have 25% share of the market and are looking to increase it further.”

Anand Buttons Ltd.

Participating for the first time in Gapexpo, Anand Buttons from India, with buttons production capacity of one lakh gross per day, showcased its polyester, horn, pearl and wooden buttons. Being both nominated and non-nominated supplier, the company is supplying to several leading exporters in Bangladesh. “We are a Gap nominated supplier in India so our buttons go to Bangladesh, Vietnam and Cambodia. We are now looking for direct business in Bangladesh; we can provide best quality buttons, be it lead free or any such desired parameters by the buyers,” shares Aditya Jain, Director-Marketing – Export Division according to whom Anand Buttons is among the top two button manufacturers of India.

Dash International

Supplying its labels to Bangladesh since the past 10 years, Dash International, an Indian company showcased its sequential, barcode and self-adhesive labels as highlight products. Sharing his view on Bangladesh garment trade, Palvinder Singh of the company says, “This market has a lot of potential as the garment exports are increasing exponentially YOY. Back in India, the garment export trade is declining so we see bright prospects here. We so far do not have our manufacturing base here due to heavy excise duty but in future we may think about setting up our own office here.” The company fetched good enquiries from companies like Pacific Jeans, KDS Garments to mention a few.

Prakash Labels

One of India’s largest manufacturers of self-adhesive labels for product identification systems, Prakash Labels provides various shapes and sizes of labels, tags and Thermal Transfer Ribbons.

In 2000, the company diversified into Barcode Systems and Solutions. “We are one of the few companies in India today with experience and also equipped to provide comprehensive Barcode Solutions through in-house qualified professionals who can do system integration and customization of software,” says C. Ramanathan, Manager Marketing according to whom the company only caters to high-end customers which are very quality-conscious. Working directly with garment manufacturers like Palmal Group, Givenchy Group, DBL, Regency to name a few, the company is feeding its products to Bangladesh since 15 years. “Market here is huge vis-à-vis India and volumes are really big here,” adds Ramanathan who also shared that the company is now at a very advanced stage of putting up a factory in Dubai. “We already have an office in Dubai; it’s a very investor-friendly country, there are no taxation issues, no book writing or paperwork, no documentation,” informed Ramanathan.

Fabric players and Embroiderers from India

Bangladesh is not a new market for Indian companies like Reliance, BSL and Pioneer Embroideries but definitely these companies are looking at increasing their business in multiple progressions as they feel business is growing in Bangladesh, with expectation of doubling exports in the next five years.

Reliance Industries

The Indian textile giant, Reliance Industries has been supplying its worsted fabrics to Bangladesh through its nominated business from the US, Europe and Japan since the last couple of years. Participating for the first time in such a show in Bangladesh, the company exhibited its fashion jacket fabrics. “This is the new concept that we have brought into Bangladesh as we feel that Bangladesh is now ready for such kind of fabrics,” shares Shyam Pillai, Dy. General Manager – Export Marketing, Textile Division as per whom Bangladesh being the second largest producer of garments in the world, a lot of American and European brands and retailers are setting up their buying offices in Bangladesh and the company is targeting to become their nominated supplier.

The company is looking at reaching out directly to the garment manufacturers and buying offices like H&M, M&S, George and the likes that are manufacturing or looking at sourcing structured garments. Reliance is already supplying its fabrics to East West and Dekko Group to mention a few prominent ones. “Our type of product is not popular in Bangladesh; there are very limited capacities for tailored clothing but we know a few factories that have come up with European collaboration. There is a factory called Universal that has just come up in Dhaka manufacturing suits; it’s a joint venture company of Ananta and Stancroft,” informs Shyam.

BSL Ltd.

Participating for the first time at this show, BSL exhibited its suiting fabrics in viscose, polyester wool, polyester cotton with lycra and spandex qualities along with linen blends. “We are exporting to around 39 countries at the moment, and our best market at the moment is Latin America and South America. The reason for participating in this show is to tap new buyers and expand our business in Bangladesh because the country has good number of formal bottom manufacturers and is also now growing in structured garment manufacturing too. We had good interaction with companies like East West Apparels, Ananta and H&M,” informed Gopal Jagetia, DGM (Exports), BSL Ltd.

Pioneer Embroideries Ltd.

Showcasing its embroideries and laces, this was the fourth time that the company was participating at Gapexpo. With its latest collections the company could fetch few concrete orders at the show itself. “We have received 2-3 very good inquiries and one is almost like a concrete order and my designers in India have already started working on the designs,” informed Harsh Bassi, Executive Director of the company. For Pioneer, Bangladesh is a growing market. “We are not rushing into things, we are working with very select customers and our products are well accepted by the garment exporters as well as the domestic market,” adds Harsh.

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