Staff Reporter :Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged the businessmen to search for new business locations, indicating pointers to the Middle East, the Gulf-Zone, the South East and the East Asia.She said that her government wanted to establish Bangladesh as a country free from poverty, claiming that her government had successfully reduced the poverty to a substantial extent.The Prime Minister said this while inaugurating the month-long Dhaka International Trade Fair in the capital’s Bangabandhu International Conference Center at Agargaon on Thursday noon at a programme.During her speech, the premier underlined her government’s contribution towards building the country’s strong economy overcoming challenges put forward by the BNP led 20-party alliance.”Export has increased, and GDP has been at over six percent whereas there is a recession worldwide,” she said.Besides Bangladesh, 13 other countries are participating in the trade fair and they are Australia, China, Germany, India, Iran, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey, UAE, The UK and the USA. Forty-eight organizations of these countries will display their goods at the fair. Bangladesh will display quality exportable goods to draw visitors from home and abroad.The traditionally month-long fair organized by the Export Promotion Bureau and the Ministry of Commerce has been arranged as per scheduled time despite the ongoing nationwide general strike. The number of stalls is 500, remaining open from 10 O’Clock in the morning to 10 O’ Clock at night. The rate of entrance ticket has been fixed at Tk 30 for adults and Tk 20 for children. The 20th trade fair will run through January on the west side of the Bangabandhu International Conference Center at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar. Among the goods in this fair are electronics, machineries, carpets, cosmetics including beauty aids, jute goods, leather goods, footwear, sports goods, toys, stationeries, clock, jewelleries, ceramics, table wear, local garments, cable, melamine products, processed foods, fast food, household items and handicrafts.Commerce Secretary Hedayatullah Al Mamun presided at the inauguration ceremony. Commerce Minister Tofael Ahmed, President of FBCCI Kazi Akramuddin Ahmed and other business leaders were also present. After the inauguration ceremony, the Premier inspected several pavilions and stalls.
