Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- The country's apparel makers got spot orders worth US$ 65 million during the 21st Bangladesh Apparel and Textile Exposition (BATEXPO) that concluded on Saturday in Dhaka.

BGMEA president Abdus Salam Murshedy disclosed this at a press conference held at its office in the city on Sunday.

"Our spot orders for clothing export grew nearly 55 percent during the three-day long fair. It was $42 million in the last year's fair," the BGMEA chief told reporters.

He also said apparel makers received export orders for clothing worth $63.50 million and worth $1.5 million for stock lots.

Mr Murshedy said local garment manufacturers are also negotiating for more $8.0 million export orders.

As many as 14,990 buyers and spectators visited the BATEXPO-2010 fair venue at the Bangabandhu International conference Centre in the capital. The number of visitors was 11,900 during the last year's fair.

Buyers and representatives from the USA, the United Kingdom, Canada, Mexico, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Russia, Poland, the Netherlands, Turkey, Sweden, Italy, France, Hong Kong, India, Greece, Thailand, Singapore, Portugal, South Korea, Uruguay and United Arab Emirates visited the fair, the BGMEA officials confirmed.

Bangladesh's garment makers exported apparel worth $12.496 billion during 2009-10 fiscal year.