Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh inaugurated the 5th knit exposition on November 02, 2009 at the grand ball room of Hotel Sheraton. Finance Minister AMA Muhith and Commerce Minister Faruk Khan were the special guests of the program. Md. Fazlul Hoque, President, BKMEA presided over the inauguration program. Besides, Labor and Employment Minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, members of the Board of Director of BKMEA, trade leaders, high ranked, govt. officials, foreign mission, civil society, donor agencies, union leaders were present in the program.

A total of 42 institutions from both home and abroad displayed their products in 64 stalls. Among these, 6 were sweaters, 2 spinning mills, 3 machinery, 2 printing, 1 garment accessories, 2 service providers and the rest were high quality knitwear producers. The participants were: Cotton Club (BD) Ltd; Mondol Fabrics Ltd; Montex Fabrics Ltd; FRC Knit Composite; Appollo Stickers; Promonent Apparel Ltd; Barnali Fabricsw Ltd, Hypoid Composite Knit Ltd; Seltex International; Micro Fibre Ltd; Juki Bangladesh Ltd; Grameen Knitwera Ltd; Chigasaki Wollen Spinning & Weaving Co. LTd; Knitworks Bangladesh Ltd; Nirjona Apparels Ltd; Pioneer Sweaters Ltd; Masco Industries Lyd; Pacific Quality Control Centre Ltd; Z. S. Apparels; Ruposhi Knitwear Ltd; Anowara Group; R. K. Fashion Ltd; Kader knitwear; Bengal Plastic Industries Ltd; Environment & textile Solutions; Modern Erection Ltd; Time Sweaters ltd; Flock Printers; Fakir Apparels Ltd; Minar Industries Ltd; SMH New Generations Apparels Ltd; Bangla Cat; Mercantile Bank Ltd; Wisdom Attires Ltd; Sensible Fashion Ltd; Tara Spinning Mills Ltd; Harvest Rich Ltd; Martin Knitwear Ltd; CSL Software Resources Ltd; Dysin- Chem Ltd; Rony Knitwear Ltd; and GTZ.

The fair generated lots of anticipation and a large number of buyers from abroad and they visited the fair with great enthusiasm. This year a record number of 157 buyers from 12 countries like the US, Japan, Hong Kong, China, South Korea, South Africa, Australia, Serbia, Germany, Italy and other European countries participated in the fair. A special aspect of the exhibition is that 52 buyers and investors from Japan have attended the exhibition.

BKMEA organized a seminar on “Bangladesh Knitwear Industry: Recession & Beyond: Challenges & Strategies”. The key presentation was made by Dr. Nazneen Ahmed, Research Fellow, BIDS. Dr. Mashiur Rahman, Advisor to the Honorable Prime Minister on Economic Affairs and Dr. Mustafizur Rahman were respectively the special and chief guests of the program. Mr. Fazlul Hoque, President, BKMEA moderated over the seminar. Former finance minister M Syeduzzaman, renowned economists, representatives from civil society, diplomats, business leaders, government officials, donor agencies, and media people were present in the program. The seminar was followed by an open discussion and a luncheon. Later the board of Directors along with some of the distinguished guests enjoyed the first ever fashion show by the workers.

To create an atmosphere for bringing exporters, buyers, manufacturers on a common platform is the main objectives of Knit Expo. Dinner meeting is an effort of BKMEA to form such a stand. BKMEA hosted dinner in honor of diplomats, donor agencies, and buyers on the occasion of Knit Expo 09 at the Ball Room of Dhaka Sheraton Hotel on November 02, 2009. Textile & Jute Minister Abdul Latif Siddiqui, MP were present as the chief guest and Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs as the special guest. Besides, highest level of representatives from the embassy of Germany, Japan, Korea, Australia, China, South Africa, and some other countries took part in the function. National & international representatives of buyers from different countries like: Taiyojapan Co Ltd, JETRO, Yccc Co Ltd, Publik d.o. of Japan, Zolla of Russia, Truval Manufacturers of South Africa, Hangzhou Knitworks Ltd of China, were also there. There was a special arrangement to visit the stalls after dinner.

The visiting buyers and foreign delegates made visits to different factories like Full charm Fashion Ltd, A One (BD) Ltd, Softex, Viyellatex Group, Grameen Knitwear, Aboni Knitwear, Interfeb Impex LLC, Columbia Garments Ltd on November 03, 04 and 05, 2009.

A reception exclusively in honor of buyers & foreign delegates was organized on November 03, 2009 at the Kurmitola Golf Club in Dhaka Cantonment. The event was followed by dinner and a cultural show by the workers and Srishti Cultural Group. Prof. Dr. Alauddin Ahmed Advisor of Education, Social Development & Political Affairs was the chief guest while Md. Shahab Ullah, Vice Chairman of Export Promotion Bureau was the special guest of the program.

The three days long knit expo ended with a musical night. The most well known gazal singer of the world, Jagjit Singh kept the audiences amused with his melodious songs on November 04, 2009. The whole evening he enthralled everyone with his music. The program ended with dinner.