The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The annual three-day Bangladesh Apparel and Textile Exposition (BATEXPO) 2009, organised by the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters' Association (BGMEA) which concluded yesterday received huge spot order.

The number of foreign buyers was higher than expected, BGMEA president Abdus Salam Murshedy told The New Nation late last evening.

On the concluding day different garment manufacturers received award for excellence in respective fields.

Earlier, on Friday Leader of the Opposition in the parliament Begum Khaleda Zia was present in the formal closing ceremony of the exposition at Pan Pacific Sonargaon hotel. The event began on Thursday to showcase local garment products in a bid to woo foreign buyers amid the ongoing global recession as the sector has been facing massive fall in export.

A good number of buyers thronged in the fair during the last three days following inauguration by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

This year buyers were mostly from Japan, Turkey and India.

A total of 86 stalls were installed to display clothing products at the fair.