Amongst the foreign visitors to the fourth edition of the Balkan Apparel and Textile Exhibition – BGate – 2006, there were both representatives of trade chains looking for manufacturers of ready made apparel and manufacturers interested in partnership with Bulgarian producers on CM and CMT basis.
Mrs Ania Probe – a journalist from the most popular German specialized publication TextilWirtschaft and Mrs Niki Tite – a journalist from Apparel Press (UK) - came over especially for that exhibition.
The exhibition was visited by companies from France, Germany, Spain, Turkey, Italy, Romania, Denmark, Serbia, Macedonia, the Czech Republic, Greece, Switzerland, The Netherlands, the UK, Hungary and others.
A French delegation of businessmen arrived at the invitation of the management of BAATPE. Amongst the foreign visitors were the second and third biggest Spanish companies in the sector - Induyco and Groupo Cortefiel.
According to the organizers, foreigners' interest has increased due to the growing popularity of the exhibition and the advertising campaign, as well as to the fact that exhibitors invited their foreign partners.
Apart from the increase in the number of foreign visitors, it was also noted that this year they came to the exhibition with clear business intentions and specific goals.
The exhibition was mainly visited by companies from Western and Central Europe with a particular interest in buying apparel from Bulgaria, rather than regional companies importing apparel to Bulgaria and investigating the market or the competition.