Int'l trade fair opens today
Number of foreign companies comes down to 7
Staff Correspondent
The Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF), the largest annual trade fair of the country, kicks off today amid poor participation by foreign companies against the backdrop of prolonged political impasse. The concern mounts as the DITF ground is located near the Election Commission office, which has faced repeated siege and barricade programmes in recent days. President and Chief Adviser of the caretaker government Iajuddin Ahmed will inaugurate the month-long trade fair on Sher-e-Bangla Nagar DITF ground. A total of 418 companies including 53 foreign firms from seven countries will display their products at the 12th version of the annual extravaganza. Malaysia is the 'large-scale' participant while other foreign participants are firms from India, Iran, Pakistan, Singapore, Thailand, and the USA. Twenty-two countries took part in the DITF in 2002. The next year, the number went down to 20, followed by 16 in 2004 and only 10 last year. Besides, the number of foreign buyers this year would be the lowest since 2002 and this might affect their main target that is to reach Bangladeshi products to the foreign buyers, Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) officials said. The EPB officials said so far buyers from only two countries, Malaysia and Nepal, have expressed their interest to attend the fair. Last year four trade associations from China, Pakistan and Myanmar sent their representatives to visit the DITF. The DITF was launched in 1995 and its main objective was to attract the foreign buyers to promote exportable goods produced in Bangladesh. After a few successful events the number of foreign participants started to decline. The organisers said they had to change the fair schedule due to 'unavoidable circumstances.' "We have sent invitation to more than 50 countries through Bangladesh's foreign missions abroad. Still we are negotiating with many countries to send buyers. We hope the number will increase," said a high official of the EPB. There will be 10 premier pavilions, 14 premier mini pavilions, 35 premier stalls, 46 pavilions, 240 general stalls and 10 restaurants, he added. Tickets will be available at the entrance at Tk 10 for adults and Tk 5 for infants. The fair to be concluded on January 2 will remain open to visitors from 10:00am to 9:00pm on weekdays and from 10:00am to 10:00pm on holidays.
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