BKMEA expo in Tokyo in January

Bangladesh wants to explore knitwear market in Japan, which is now virtually captured by China with its 87 per cent stake, said a BKMEA top official, reports UNB "We're going to arrange the sixth Knitwear Exposition in Tokyo which will help boost sales and grab market share from China," BKMEA second vice president Mohammad Hatem told the news agency Wednesday. He said Bangladesh has only 0.6 per cent market share in Japan but there is ample scope to expand the market of Bangladesh's quality products. Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) will arrange the exposition at Japan's largest exposition centre - Big Sight - from January 25 to January 27 next year. "Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) is sharing 50 pe rcent cost of the event. There'll be 40 stalls in the fair," Hatem said. A team of more than 120 members representing the government and business bodies will leave for Tokyo on January 23, organisers said. Commerce Minister GM Quader and Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Faruk Khan are likely to attend the event. Replying to a question, Hatem said, "Japan wants China-plus one to cut dependence on China. We want to take a bite from China's share." According to the organisers, the 2012 exposition will be BKMEA's effort to support the government's policy of expanding and diversifying the market and reduce the industry's dependency on European and American markets. Japan imports US$27 billion worth of readymade garments every year. Recently, the Japanese government has awarded two stage GSP facilities to the Bangladeshi knitwear sector. The country's knitwear sector is the third in monetary value and second in terms of quantity amongst the world's knitwear exporting nations, according to BKMEA.