Chittagong Bureau :
The 23rd month-long Chittagong International Trade Fair-2015 (CITF-2015) has kicked off with participation of Thailand as partner country from yesterday (March 3) in the port city at Railway Pologround.
Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed formally inaugurated the fair at 4.30 pm as chief guest while State Minister for Land Saifuzzaman Chowdhury, MP, former President of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), M A Latif, MP attended it as special guests.
CCCI President Mahabubul Alam delivered the welcome address on the occasion.
The mega trade event, the second largest International Trade Fair in the country, to be held under the auspices of CCCI.
CCCI president in his brief speech said over 400 stalls including 12 premier gold pavilions, two mini mega pavilions, eight premier pavilions, 16 standard pavilions, 127 premier mega booths, 50 mega booths were set up till to date at the fair venue covering four lakh square feet areas of Railway Polo ground here.
He also informed that the friendly country Thailand has agreed to participate in the fair as partner country for the 12th time.
Leading industrial enterprises of home and abroad including Iran, India, Turkey and Pakistan are going to participate in the fair for the 4th time along with some other countries to showcase their products.
The CCCI authority has been organizing the fair since 1993 and it got a wide range of publicity by the Bangladesh foreign missions in abroad, foreign missions in Bangladesh and different trade bodies and world famous trade-based websites.
All preparations including structural development of the fair venue under an attractive layout plan have almost completed to make the fair a success, sources said.
CCCI officials said besides stringent security measures, one stop banking service, fire service center and emergency medical center will also be set up inside the fair venue for the convenient of the participants and visitors.
On the other hand, a number of high profile trade and investment delegations from India, Pakistan and Thailand are scheduled to visit the fair for exploring trade and investment prospects, the source added.
State Minister for Land Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Javed and the Member of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Shipping MA Latif MP delivered address on the inaugural session of the fair as special guests.
Chairman of CITF Committee and Senior Vice President of CCCI Nurun Newaz Selim and the co-chairman Syed Jamal Ahmed briefly delivered speech highlighting the significance of the CITF and its impact abroad .
. The fair will remain open for public from 10 am to 10 pm everyday with entry ticket of Tk.10 each. CITF sources said the fair venue is located over 4 lakh sft areas in Chittagong Railway Pologround .
The fair venue consists of 12 premier gold pavilions , 2 mega pavilions , 8 premier pavilions , 16 standard pavilions, 127 premier mega boths, 50 mega boths, 10 premier gold bo0ths, 14 standard booths, 38 premier booth and 3 restaurants space and 239 stalls.
About 400 companies either from home and abroad will participate the fair, sources said.
CITF chairman further disclosed that security measures will be tightened further than before considering the political violence in the country.
He further said as tight security measures , additional police and RAB personnel will perform their duties round the clock of 3 shifts . Other than law enforcing forces, private security forces will also be deputed to main the normal discipline inside the fair venue and outside entrance gate .
Besides, members of intelligence agencies will also monitor the security arrangement of the fair, sources said.
The special arrangement for installing stalls for crescent society, Sandani, deaf and dumps has been taken as a part compliance of social responsibility.
Standard Bank Ltd will provide all facilities of bank transactions including installing ATM both in the fair venue, sources said.
