SGCCI to host first ever ‘India Textile Trade Fair’ in Bangladesh from January 11 to January 14

Surat (Gujarat) : Textile entrepreneurs from Surat and south Gujarat will have direct access to the textile sector in neighbouring Bangladesh for the first time. From January 11 to 14, the Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI) will host the first-ever ‘India Textile Trade Fair’ to capitalise on the vast bilateral trade opportunities between Surat and Bangladesh.

Around 60 leading textile industrialists from Surat and south Gujarat will attend the four-day exhibition, which will be held at the International Convention City in Basundhara, Dhaka.

“There is a huge market in Bangladesh for yarns, fabrics, garments, and accessories produced in Surat,” said Himanshu Bodawala, president of SGCCI. Surat traders can easily sell their products at an international level exhibition organised by the Chamber of Commerce in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Around 60 textile industrialists from South Gujarat will take part and display their products. ”

Bangladesh is the world’s second largest exporter of apparel. Every year, the country exports garments and apparel worth US$ 44 billion. Bangladesh currently imports $6 billion in textiles from China each year, while $2 billion in textile goods is imported from India annually.

“Surat’s textile entrepreneurs are manufacturing the quality of textile products at par with China. Surat has a fair chance of capturing the Bangladesh market with its quality fabrics and yarns because Bangladesh is the largest importer of yarn, cotton, knitted and woven fabrics,” said Bodawala.

India and Bangladesh have a friendly bilateral trade relationship. Both belong to the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation. As a result, Bangladesh has the potential to be a large market for Surat’s textile products, and this exhibition will be critical for Surat’s textile industry in exporting fabrics directly to Bangladeshi garment manufacturers.

During his visit to India, Bangladesh Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi met with Union Textiles Minister Piyush Goyal to discuss the bilateral free trade agreements. Surat could become a major textile supplier to Bangladesh if the duty on textile products exported from India to Bangladesh is abolished under the FTA.

Bangladesh has over 4,000 factories producing readymade garments such as sarees, dress materials, salwar suits, bridal wear, designer wear, gowns and kurtis, Indo western wear and casual wear such as shirts, trousers, t shirts, denim, jackets, and woven wear such as knitwear and sweaters. Bangladesh exports ladies wear worth $6 billion per year, and Surat is a leading producer of ladies wear fabrics, providing Surat’s textile industry with direct access to the Bangladeshi market.

“We have invited Bangladesh’s Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi to inaugurate the trade fair on January 11,” said Amish Shah, chairman of the India Textile Trade Fair. Farooqui Hassan, President of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, Mohamud Jashim Uddin, President of Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and former president Shafil Moinuddin will be present.” Indian High Commissioner in Bangladesh Pranay Verma will be the chief guest at the inaugural event.

The four-day exhibition is expected to attract Bangladesh’s garment exporters and manufacturers, importers, distributors, wholesalers, fashion designers, traders, design studios and institutes, Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA), Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), and approximately 20,000 genuine buyers.