Visitors are flocking in large numbers to the pavilions and stalls of foreign countries to buy home textile, jewellery, shoe, dresses and cookeries at the 19th Dhaka International Trade Fair.
While talking to the New Nation, most of the foreign exhibitors expressed satisfaction over the fair management and visitors’ turnout but reported lower business compared to that of the previous event.
Exhibitors from 12 countries are displaying their products this year. They are from India, Pakistan, China, Malaysia, Iran, South Korea, Thailand, US, UK, Turkey and Singapore.
A Chinese (HK) stall owner, Tung, expressed his happiness as customers came in large numbers to buy jewellery. He also expressed satisfaction over everyday sales volume as well as overall environment of the event.
Tung, however, declined to disclose the daily business turnover at his stall.
“The fair creates a unique opportunity to the exhibitors as they can show a wide-range of products under one roof,” he said, adding, “besides, we get to know about the taste of local people and their culture.
While talking to The New Nation exhibitors from Pakistan highlighted the visa complexity to come to the trade fair. They also alleged that Bangladeshi High Commission in Bangladesh charged extra fees for giving visas.
“We had to pay extra money to get Bangladeshi visas this year,” alleged Elahi Bux, a Pakistani exhibitor.
“The customers are happily buying from us. Traditional products like dresses, shoes, shawls and cookeries, bed-sheets are being bought very enthusiastically,” he said.
He mentioned that the sales turnover in this year’s fair is low compared to that of last year because of political uncertainty prevailing in the country.
“A good number of visitors and customers are visiting to our stall everyday boosting our sales turnover,” said Atiq Hossain, an Indian exhibitor who came from Kshmir.
The main items which are drawing huge customer attraction at his stall are the traditional Kashmiri bed sheets and shawls.
An Iranian stall owner, Md Ali, said, he was getting huge response from the buyers who are enthusiastic to buy the stone jewellery of his country.
Yollo, owner of the Korean Fashion Jewellery, said, people are visiting in large number at his stall everyday but the sales volume is not satisfactory that he expected this year.
Korean Fashion Jewellery has huge collection of imitation and stone coated ornaments in the shelves.
“Our sales are yet to get momentum although we did good business last year” he added.
Sales representatives of three US stalls which are exhibiting Jordana and Jacklin brand cosmetics for women also reported lower business turnover this year.
