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
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