The 23rd Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF-2018 will begin tomorrow (Monday) at Sher-E-Bangla Nagar, west side of Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC), in Dhaka.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to inaugurate the month-long fair organised jointly by the Commerce Ministry and Export Promotion Bureau (EPB).
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages wishing the DITF-2018 a grand success, reports BSS.
Commerce minister Tofail Ahmed said preparation has already been completed to hold the fair on 31.53 acres of land in a peaceful atmosphere.
"The main gate of the fair venue has been built symbolising the Padma Bridge," he said while speaking at a press conference organised in connection with the opening of DITF-2018.
Tofail said the Bangabandhu Pavilion has been set up on a large area as Bangabandhu's 7th March Speech got Unesco's resignation as part of the world's documentary heritage and this pavilion has been given a unique touch of decoration this year so that the new generation and foreign visitors could know the real history of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The commerce minister said the fair remain open for visitors from 10am to 10 pm up to January 31 and the entry fee for an adult is Taka 30 and for children at Taka 20.
Tofail said the international trade fair will be organised at Purbachal from 2020.
In his message President Abdul Hamid extended sincere greetings and congratulations to all the participants including local and foreign companies, in the DITF-2018.
He said the present government has been implementing various programmes to expand the volume of investment, expansion of trade and commerce to transform Bangladesh into a middle income country by 2021 and a developed country by 2041.
As part of the endeavour, DITF is a timely and effective step, he added.
"I hope such arrangement will be able to play an important role in implementing the government's multi-faceted economic plan and the rapid development of the economy," said the President.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in her speech said DITF-2018 would help create opportunity in product diversification and at the same time generate a growing interest among local entrepreneurs to improve the quality of their products and make them efficient actors to take their local products to the competitive edge in the global market.
Moreover, the foreign participants will also receive a positive message of Bangladesh trade and investment friendly environment, she added.
The Premier said generous trade policy outlines an investment-conducive and business-friendly atmosphere and the overall foreign investment and export income of Bangladesh have been increased raised.
"Bangladesh has now turned into an attractive destination for the foreign entrepreneurs, investors and importers," Sheikh Hasina added.
"We are constructing the Padma Bridge with own finance. We will march forward with strong decision to meet the needs of the country and will build Golden Bangladesh as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman," the Prime Minister said.
"I firmly believe that the DITF-2018 will generate keen interest and enthusiasm among local manufacturers and overseas buyers," she said.
There are a total of 589 stalls and pavilions including 64 premium pavilions, 27 foreign pavilions and eight mini foreign pavilions and also 24 food stalls in the fair venue.
A total of 43 foreign organisations including India, Bhutan, Pakistan, China, the United States, the United Kingdom, Nepal, Japan, Australia, Germany, Hong Kong and the Arab Emirates are participating in the fair this year.
The foreign participants will also have the opportunity to display their state-of-the-art technology to the local producers and exporters.
The local producers in the remote areas of rural Bangladesh who do not have financial strength to participate in international trade fair will have the opportunity to display their products to the buyers from abroad at this fair.
There will be a digital information centre in the fair this year. There will be a DITF experience centre and e-listing of participants.
Different programmes on the fair will be screened and there is a mobile app to carry out publicity on the fair.
Adequate measures have been taken by the Police Administration to ensure safety and security of local and foreign visitors. The authorities have installed 500 CCTVs as part of their security measures.
Steps have been taken to bring the trade fair under a 360 degree virtual tour gradually and anyone can take the experience of visiting the fair from home and abroad by using VR Goggles. Along with it, rare photos of Bangabandhu, documentaries on the life of Bangabandhu will be available for viewers on www.ditflive.com, www.bangabandhupavilion.com/org. Bangabandhu's 7th March Speech will be displayed in 3D Truk beside the stall of Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation in the fair venue.