The fair will be officially named the Bangkok International Fashion Fair and Bangkok International Leather Fair (BIFF & BIL) 2010, the ministry said in a statement obtained by Xinhua on Monday.
On the back of the theme of Look East, the BIFF & BIL 2010 will be a vivid showcase of great potential of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) fashion industry, from upstream to downstream, the statement said.
"With the ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (AFTA) become effective from January this year, the overall trade volume between the ASEAN countries and their partners is growing at rapid pace," the statement quoted Mrs. Srirat Rastapana, Director General of the Department of Export Promotion, as saying.
More than 1,000 selected domestic and overseas exhibitors in diverse fields from clothing, textile, leather and fashion accessories to textile equipment & machinery, software & services related to the fashion industry will participate in the fair, the statement said.
"The BIFF & BIL 2010 therefore will provide the region's exhibitors and buyers from Japan, India, China, (South) Korea and Taiwan with a promising platform for trade and cooperation. It is the only fair that offers a complete range of products and services related to the fashion industry supply chain, with greater trade negotiation and sourcing opportunities ever for everyone involved," she said.
Potential visitors of the fair include importers, manufacturers, traders, distributors, wholesalers, retailers, boutiques, department stores, buying agents, designers, international press and related others.
Speaking at a recent press conference during the BIFF & BIL road show in Tokyo, the DEP Director General invited manufacturers, buyers and relevant institutes and organizations in the Japanese fashion industry to join the BIFF & BIL 2010.
"The textiles, apparel, and leather exports to Japan are now worth nearly 500 million U.S. dollars. Within this, textiles and apparel exports account for more than 420 million U.S. dollars and leather goods account for 50 million U.S. dollars. Thanks to the Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement (JTEPA) and the expanding opportunity for Thai exporters in the Japanese medium market as local Japanese manufacturers focus on high-end segment," said Mrs. Srirat.
Among highlights at the BIFF & BIL 2010 include seminars and conferences, 48 fashion shows, ASEAN Design Congress, Thailand Designer Contest as well as ASEAN Pavilion and Japan Pavilion.
