BANGLADESH:Bangladesh Terry-Towel manufacturers find large prospects in Japan.

Opportunities are coming to Bangladesh as the internationally reputable apparel brands are now eyeing Bangladesh for sourcing more garments along with the world's recovery from the impact of financial meltdown.

Shofiquzzaman Prince, owner of Sensible Fashion Pvt Ltd, said a few buyers have already approached Bangladesh for importing garments, leaving out the other countries in competition. While, others too are raising the magnitude of their orders, he added.

"I have got a good response for terry-towel from a Japanese company as the product demand is growing at their hospitals, hotels and restaurants," he said.

Higher cost of production has caused a hike in garment prices in Turkey, China, Cambodia, Sri Lanka and Vietnam, and Bangladesh too has expanded its product range and marketing strategy over the past several years, Mr Prince explained.

Knitwear manufacturers are also in good times as they got about 24 per cent more orders during the first quarter of the current fiscal compared to that of the last corresponding one.

"We are getting a good number of orders from the buyers that are 24 per cent more than the last July- September period," Habibur Rahman, first vice president of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufactures and Exporters Association (BKMEA) told the FE.

The growth has been prompted by a higher demand for Bangladeshi textile products abroad and the success of the country in exploring new markets, he said.

"The knitwear sector is receiving a significant number of orders as those have been diverted from China to Bangladesh due to higher production cost there," Rahman said

Japan is a large market of $25 billion and 87 per cent of its imports come from China, he said adding that Bangladesh can grab only 0.53 per cent of it.