Apparel Online Bangladesh Magazine Magazine March 2018 | Page 21

EVENT “The fresh air of positivity which the industry is emitting was reflected at the event; and exhibitors, having received this feedback from their local teams, were prepared with bigger booths and automation. This synergy of expectation created a successful event.” – Nandagopal K (L-R) Saleem B, Tipu Sultan Bhuyian and Nandagopal K; Directors of Ask Trade & Exhibitions Pvt. Ltd. claimed to have a successful event is the great response received by H&H seam sealing machines and SmartMRT hanger systems, which are both relatively new technologies for Bangladesh market. Another highlight that caught everyone’s attention was the pedal for standing operations by Duerkopp Adler. The pedal is of great importance in terms of ergonomics for operators who have to stand while operating, reducing the chances of backache. For a market which is demanding automation, technology providers have also come up with new and improved features that add perks to their offerings. Gerber Technology is one such name, which with its strong R&D back-up, enhances the value bein g offered by them. The latest feature which caught everyone attention was the knife replacement system in Gerber’s Paragon cutter. At many booths, the discussion centred around training and the importance of supporting technology with the right type of service which included training. All the technology providers agree that the industry is now investing in creating manpower for the future and more and more local resources are being trained to replace managers being brought in from other countries, in critical operations. This is a positive trend and a good sign that the (L-R) Md. Siddiqur Rahman, President (BGMEA), Abul Maal Abdul Muhith, Minister of Finance of Bangladesh and Md. Abdul Kader Khan, President (BGAPMEA) during inauguration ceremony of Garmentech’18 industry is maturing. Another sign that the industry is moving in the right direction is the growing number of companies going in for ERP and other management tools to streamline operations. Software solutions are receiving great attention at fairs and the acceptance of such solutions has encouraged Stage Ecotech Software to open an office in Bangladesh to better service the many enquiries that it has received not only at the event but also in the last 6 months. Organisers’ take… Organisers of the event were very happy with the quality of turnout, as many decision makers made it a point to be present at the event with their technical teams. “The fresh air of positivity which the industry is emitting was reflected at the event; and exhibitors, having received this feedback from their local teams, were prepared with bigger booths and automation. This synergy of expectation created a successful event,” said Nandagopal K, Director, ASK Trade & Exhibitions Pvt Ltd, the co-organisers of the event with Zakaria Trade & Fair International. The organisers shared that they ran out of space for the exhibitors as everyone was keen to book bigger areas. “Many positive developments are working in favour of Bangladesh today, including a stable and proactive government,” reasoned Nandagopal. The Government’s quick and subtle handling of the Bakery case, decision to develop a strong middle-income group by 2021 and the increasing number of Chinese companies looking to invest in Bangladesh, has added to the positivity. The additional focus of the industry on new areas like leather and home textiles is also adding to the buzz. In fact, the Government has set a target of 5 billion from the current 1.2 billion for the leather industry to be achieved in the next 3 years. “The way this industry is growing has lent greater encouragement to the technology providers to bring in new technologies for this section, which is also expanding the scope of the event,” said Nandagopal. Always looking at adding some new element, this edition saw 25 companies showcasing under the banner of Printex for the first time. The printing machines were a big draw for the visitors. Going forward, the organisers would now like to focus on strengthening participation of support industries like management tools, software providers, logistics, consultancy etc. “The idea is to give more value to the visitors and ensure business to the exhibitors with better footfall,” concluded Nandagopal. www.apparelresources.com | MARCH 2018 | Apparel Online Bangladesh 21