Badrul Ahsan :
The Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF) 2016 concluded on Sunday with manufacturers receiving export orders worth Tk 2.35 billion, Tk 710 million more over the previous year.
This was informed at the closing session of the month-long fair at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the city. Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed attended the closing ceremony as the chief guest, while Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Ministry of Commerce Tajul Islam Chowdhury, Senior Secretary of Commerce Ministry Hedayet Ullah Al Mamoon and President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Abdul Matlub Ahmad were the special guests.
Vice-Chairman of the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) Mafruha Sultana chaired the session that was attended by leaders of country’s trade bodies, exhibitors and visitors.
“We have been very successful in receiving export orders and concluding a successful event in all respects,” said Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed at the fair’s closing ceremony on Sunday.
The minister stressed the importance of product diversification to attract foreign buyers, adding that the government, too, is working on this, by exploring new markets.
Tofail assured that the fair, organised jointly by the Export Promotion Bureau and the Commerce Ministry every year at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar for the past 21 years, would soon be given a permanent venue complete with structures at Purbachol.
“The fair provides a strong platform for the country’s vendors,” said Tajul Islam Chowdhury, chief of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Commerce.
FBCCI President Abdul Matlub Ahmad stressed the need for exploring new markets, while urging the government to designate a permanent venue for the fair.
The country’s biggest trade show that came to a close yesterday was meant to be an annual venue for local and a small group of foreign manufacturers to display a diverse array of products and help them network with overseas buyers.
However, according to the organizers, a record amount of VAT has been collected during the fair although they could not give the exact figure of the collected amount.
Meanwhile, manufacturers and traders from both home and abroad displayed their goods in a total of 553 stalls, pavilions and mini pavilions. Last year there were 497 stalls and pavilions in the DITF.
According to fair organising committee, 56 stalls have been allotted to companies from 21 foreign countries.
