Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday urged the business entrepreneurs to come up with innovative ideas, knowledge and qualitative strategy to diversify their products in line with global demand.

“Bangladesh needs to expand its trade and business across the world to survive in the global community keeping its head high,” she told the inaugural ceremony of the month-long Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF)-2016 at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.

The commerce ministry and Bangladesh Export Promotion Bureau have been jointly organising the fair for 21 consecutive years.

The PM said the DITF is now recognised as a centre of international trade and commerce. It has given Bangladeshi entrepreneurs and business bodies an opportunity to connect themselves with the world business community, and also prove their capacity in the fields of productivity, trade and commerce.

Urging the producers to take special care about the standard of products, branding and productivity, Hasina said it would be easier and beneficial for the country if it could export goods under its own brand.

Stressing the need for promotion of the country's traditional agro-based economy, the premier said agro-products are in huge demand abroad. “So, we should find out new markets for traditional and non-traditional agricultural commodities.”

She asserted that her government was not in power to do business as it is an affair of businesspeople. The government would do its best to create and ensure a congenial environment for business, she pledged.

Hasina said local workers should be skilled and knowledge-oriented in order to strengthen the capacity to survive and overcome various barriers.

Highlighting Bangladesh's persistent economic tolerance amidst global economic recession over the last few years, the premier said she hopes the country's economic growth rate would be 7 percent in the current fiscal.

She said she strongly believes that Bangladesh must emerge as a middle-income country on the world economic map by 2021. She hoped that businesspeople, industrialists, exporters, importers, researchers and technologists from home and abroad would come forward to help establish a dignified position for Bangladesh.

Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, Opposition Chief Whip Tajul Islam Chowdhury, Commerce Secretary Hedayet Ullah Al Mamun and FBCCI President Abdul Matlub Ahmed also spoke on the occasion.

Cabinet members, senior government officials, diplomats, business leaders, exporters and participants from home and abroad were present.

Later, the PM went round different stalls of the fair.