Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday declared the pharmaceutical products, including their raw materials, as the 'Products of the Year' 2018.

The announcement came while she was inaugurating the month-long Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF), aiming to showcase Bangladeshi products to boost exports.

The Ministry of Commerce and the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) organised the exposition to help local entrepreneurs bag instant export orders.

Last year, Bangladesh received export orders worth Tk 243 crore from the trade fair.

The Prime Minister later went round different stalls of the fair.

Companies from 27 countries will participate with their products in the annual exposition at the city's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in nearly 600 stalls. Of the stalls, 50 have been earmarked for foreign companies.

Spaces have also been allocated for two children parks, one blood donation centre, a maternity centre and one first aid centre.

The fair, which will end on January 31, will remain open to visitors from 9:00am to 10:00pm every day. The entry fee for adults is Tk 30 and Tk 20 for minors.