Ready-made garment, country's most dynamic industrial sector, has been at the helm of our export-led economy over the last decade. The sector is earning nearly 70% of the nation's total foreign exchange, directly employing over 1.3 million working people and helping linkage industries to rise. As a result, it has created a huge multidimensional integration in the economy. This sector has not only provided the nation a base of economic emancipation but also has given an impressive

face-lift in the post-liberation, convincingly placing the name of the country in the apparel map of the world. Today I derive an humble pride to say that we, the business community in apparel sector, have tethered our fate with the fate of the entire nation.

Since 1989, through BATEXPO '97 Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association has been bringing the business community in the apparel and textile trade into confidence that Bangladesh stands for quality and value for their penny. Overseas buyers' and investors' confidence in us we treasure most. On every BATEXPO, we over haul our orientation to our buyers' satisfaction to refurbish their confidence in us.

BATEXPO is the biggest opportunity for our government also to help build the trust among the country's brave fighters in the textile and clothing sector on the economic front and their overseas victory partners that the government is beside them always.

I hope, with all of its objectives, this year and in the years to come, BATEXPO '97 would continue to play its significant role in resting the tower of the nation's economic success on strong industrial basement. I extend my heartiest thanks to everybody concerned with the Exposition. I wish BATEXPO '97 and all its participants be endowed with a great success.