The 22nd annual Bangladesh Apparel and Textile Exposition (BATEXPO) will kick off in Dhaka tomorrow to showcase local apparel products to the international community, organisers said yesterday. Businessmen said they expect more spot orders at the show this year compared to the past. The three-day mega event will take place at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre at Agargaon in Dhaka, said Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin, President of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), at a press conference at the association's office in the city.   “We are expecting more buyers at the fair this year than last year,” Mohiuddin said. He said spot orders from international buyers worth $65 million were bagged at the last year's exposition. But this year, the amount will be greater as there is an influx of foreign buyers, he added.   The domestic and international buyers and manufacturers will display their products at a total of 146 stalls, he said. Garment business representatives from Thailand, India, China and Pakistan will participate in the show, Mohiuddin said. Product diversification is also taking place as Bangladesh is now becoming stronger in the lingerie and outwear jacket segments, he said. At the same time, market diversification has come under focus, as exports from Bangladesh are increasing to Latin American countries, Japan, South Africa, New Zealand, China, India and South Korea. The traditional garment export markets of Bangladesh are the EU-27 countries and the USA. The BGMEA president said they need bigger venues to hold such events as the present venue can hardly accommodate such a large gathering of businesspeople from home and abroad. Three seminars on skill development for garment workers, compliance issues and environment will be held on the sidelines, he added. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to inaugurate the fair as the chief guest, while opposition chief Khaleda Zia is scheduled to attend the closing ceremony as the chief guest, he said. Syed Nurul Islam, chief coordinator of the event, also spoke.