FE Report

A delegation of the country's top knitwear manufacturers will leave for Japan as they pile up efforts to boost exports of Bangladeshi knitwear in the world's third largest apparel market.

The 24-member delegation led by Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) president Md. Fazlul Hoque represents the biggest ever trade delegation from Dhaka to Tokyo.

Mr Hoque said the team would meet at least 20 top Japanese garment importers, leading chemical fibre manufacturers and retailers including the owners of biggest clothing chain stores, Uniqlo, in an effort to make further in-roads in the top Asian market

"Our aim is to inform Japanese buyers about Bangladeshi products and win new clients. We are confident the tour would be a great success," he said.

The tour comes as Japanese retailers such as Uniqlo has started to purchase more clothing from countries such as Bangladesh as part of their new policy to reduce over-dependence on Chinese products.

Data released by Japanese trade show that Japanese companies' import of Bangladeshi clothing has more than doubled in the first two months of the year --- a growth exporters said would continue throughout this year.

Mr Hoque said Bangladesh garments have won hearts of many Japanese buyers, but they still needed extra efforts to capture a big slice of the US$10 billion apparel market in Japan.

"During our four-day visit we'll show them what we are capable of," he said, adding the team would visit an international fashion expo and meet officials of textile giant, Toray, as it has shown interest to invest heavily in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh last year exported knitwear worth $37 million, a figure experts say can be raised to one billion dollars in less than a decade's time.

A similar delegation from the knitwear association visited Hong Kong early this month to explore the fast-growing Chinese market via the island city.