The 22nd Bangladesh Apparel and Textile Exposition (Batexpo-2011), the country's largest apparel show, begins today in Dhaka, with a high hope to draw larger number of foreign buyers despite the global economic crisis.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is set to inaugurate the event at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the morning.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith, Textiles and Jute Minister Abdul Latif Siddique, LGRD Minister Syed Ashraful Islam, Commerce Minister GM Quader, Industries Minister Dilip Barua, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Faruk Khan and Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan will address the inaugural session as special guests.

A total of 146 stalls of garment accessories (local and foreign), garment fabrics, garment technology and stock lot have been set up at the fair venue.

Opposition BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia will attend the closing session of the three-day show on Monday as the chief guest.

Former Industries and Commerce Minister MK Anwar, BNP acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, former minister and Khaleda's adviser M Osman Faruk and former commerce minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury will also be present at the concluding session.

The organisers expect that this year's Batexpo would be different and it would be able to attract more foreign buyers than in 2010 with an increased volume in spot orders, which was $65 million last year.

It will be a reunion for both foreign buyers and local manufacturers, and the fair would help expand global market for Bangladesh's readymade garments, they say.

MGH, SAASCO Group, GIZ, IFC Bank, Exim Bank, Southeast Bank, Airtel, NCC Bank, Shahjalal Islami Bank and Well Park Residence are among the sponsors of the event.