BSS, Chittagong :
The 22nd month long Chittagong International Trade Fair-2014 (CITF-2014) kicks off with the participation of Thailand as partner country from March 8 in the port city.
Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed will attend the inaugural function as the chief guest while Minister for Housing and Public Works Engineer Mosharf Hossain, MP will attend the function.
Former Presidents of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), M A Latif, MP, and President of Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce & Industries (FBCCI) Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed, among others will address the function as the special guests.
CCCI President Mahabubul Alam disclosed this at a press conference held at CCCI auditorium this noon.
The mega trade event, second largest International Trade Fair in the country would be held under the auspices of CCCI.
Chamber president said over 350 stalls including 10 premier gold pavilion, 16 standard pavilions, 80 mega booths, 97 premier booths were set up till to the date at the fair venue covering four lakh square feet of land areas of Railway Pologround here.
He also informed that the friendly country Thailand has agreed to participate in the fair as partner country for the 11th time.
They said some of the leading industrial enterprises of home and abroad including from Iran, India, United state of America, China, Japan and United Arab Emirates are going to participate in the fair for the 3rd 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 web sites.
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 stringent security measures, one stop banking service, fire service center and emergency medical center will also be set up inside the fair for the convenient of the participants and visitors.
On the other hand, a number of high profile trade and investment delegations from Korea, Pakistan and Thailand are scheduled to visit the fair for exploring trade and investment prospects, the sources added.
The fair will be opened for visitors from 10 am to 10 pm everyday.
