Business Desk :
The 26th Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF) is going to be inaugurated today (Saturday) at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Center in Purbachal on the outskirts of the capital.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to inaugurate the fair virtually from her official residence Ganabhaban at 10:00am. President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday issued separate messages on the occasion of 26th DITF-2022.
Both the President and the Prime Minister wished the trade fair a grand success. In his message, President Abdul Hamid extended his cordial thanks to the Ministry of Commerce, the Export Promotion Bureau and other supporting agencies for organizing this trade fair.
He said this type of international trade fair is essential for the country’s export products and market diversification.
In order to achieve economic prosperity to build the Sonar Bangla as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the arrangement of such trade events in regular basis will leave worthwhile contribution, he added. Moreover, he said, this year’s trade fair has got some added importance for the Golden Jubilee of the country’s Independence.
“I think this fair will enhance the trade relations of our country with the rest of the world,” he added.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in her message, said the event will create ample opportunities to the local and overseas exhibitors to showcase their competitive advantages and innovative products to the customers.
At the same time, she said, buyers will get the opportunity to purchase the products at a competitive price from this mega-event. By participating in this fair, local entrepreneurs will be able to improve the quality of their products as per the need and will be able to compete in international trade, she added.
She said during the last two years of the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic, the world has experienced severe setback in trade and commerce.
“But our government has taken a timely and well thought decision, and given stimulus packages to the exporters to enhance the business activities which led to restoration of export momentum,” she added. At a press conference, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi said all preparations have already been completed to organize the trade fair.
“Due to Covid-19 pandemic, it was not possible to organize the fair in the last year. But, we are going to organize the trade fair at the permanent venue for the first time,” he added.
This year, he said, the fair has been organized keeping in mind the birth centenary of Bangabandhu, the golden jubilee of independence and the development activities of the government.
This year 23 pavilions, 27 mini pavilions, 162 stalls and 15 food stalls have been leased to various local and international organisations.
The commerce ministry and the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) jointly organised the 26th edition of the fair at the Purbachal site for the first time.
The government changed the venue from Agargaon to Purbachal as the previous location is too small to accommodate a large number of participants and visitors.
Apart from business stalls and pavilions, there will be food courts, restrooms, and a playground for kids at the fair.
The gate of the international trade fair will open at 10 am every day and close at 9 pm, except for government holidays when the fair will run till 10pm. Every adult visitor will have to pay Tk40 for entry tickets while for minors the ticket price has been set at Tk20.
To ease transportation to the fair, the government has taken several initiatives, including deploying 30 BRTC buses which will run from under the Kuril flyover to the fair from 8am to 10pm every day. A visitor will need to pay Tk25 for each trip.
The Dhaka International Trade Fair was first held in 1995. Over the years, it has grown into a popular medium for local entrepreneurs to familiarise their brands.
