Dhaka Int'l Trade Fair begins Feb 2

The stage is set for the Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF) '99 beginning in the city on February 2. The fifth international trade fair will be held with participants from as many as 30 countries.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to inaugurate the fair as chief guest.

"The aim of the international exposition is to introduce foreign machinery and local exportables to the prospective buyers," an EPB (Export Promotion Bureau) official told The Daily Star.

A wide array of products like jute goods, jute yarn and twine jute carpets, garments, textiles, towels and garment accessories, leather and leather goods including footwear and jackets will be on display.

Besides, the buyers can pick tea and coffee, cane and basket products, electronic items, stuffed toys and handloom products from the exposition.

The fair will help foreign buyers or their agents to make their choices and establish contact with the exporters.

Overseas participants from different countries are also expected to exhibit various kinds of consumer goods along with machinery.

Expected foreign participants include companies from the USA, UK, Germany, France, Denmark, Italy, Australia, Egypt, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Korea, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkey, Kenya, Malaysia, China, Oman, Iran, United Arab Emirates, Japan, and Russia.

A private sector web designing company, Digital Web Corporation, has been assigned to maintain a Web site to the DITF. Web explorers would be able to see what is happening instantly through a digital display in the Internet.

There will be 33 pavilions, 53 mini pavilions, 271 stalls and 10 restaurants in the fair. The fair will be held at its traditional venue at the Sher-e-Bangla Nagar.

Bangladesh has a very bright prospect in garments sector from which it earned $5161.20 million during the fiscal 1997-98 and expected to get more orders from the fair.

The exposition last year did business amounting Tk 300 crore.

The business community and the general public wait round the year for this fair as they can buy many local and foreign products from the fair which is not available at normal time.