Biggest trade expo misses the buzz

The Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF) 2016 is yet to gain momentum as sales are nothing to write home about, even though there is currently no political volatility, visitors and participants pointed out.
The Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) has organised the country’s biggest trade extravaganza, now in its 21st year, with the aim to attract foreign buyers.
Talking to The Independent, an EPB point man at the DITF Information Centre said they were expecting a heavier rush from tomorrow.
“The DITF usually goes into full gear in the last two weeks of the month-long fair. This is due to the issue of financial availability for the consumers,” he said.  “Adequate numbers of police and RAB personnel are on guard,” he added.
Besides Bangladesh, 21 other countries, including India, Pakistan, China, Malaysia, Iran, Thailand, the USA, Turkey, Singapore, Australia, the UK, South Korea, Germany and the UAE, are also taking part in the trade show.
The fair organisers have allocated some 111 pavilions, 57 mini pavilions, 80 premier pavilions and 276 stalls for the participants this year.
An array of products are at display at the fair, including machinery, carpets, cosmetics and beauty products, electrical and electronic goods, jute and leather goods, footwear, sports goods, sanitary wears, toys, watches, jewellery, ceramic items, local apparels, processed foods, fast foods, furniture and handicrafts.
Local producers from remote areas of Bangladesh, who otherwise do not have the financial strength to participate in international trade fairs, also have the opportunity to showcase their products to foreign buyers.
On the other hand, overseas participants also get the opportunity to display their products to consumers in Bangladesh, where the domestic market for consumer goods has been expanding in recent years. The foreign participants can also showcase their state-of-the-art technologies to the local producers and exporters. Besides, the participants will be able to identify prospective business contacts at the expo.
A visit to the fair on Wednesday revealed that stalls like “Best Buy” of RFL and Korean stall selling crockeries were a huge draw. Besides, the Thai pavilion with its array of vanity bags and fancy items was a big hit with the women. The visitors also made a beeline for the Indian pavilion, especially for Kashmiri shawls.
Pavilion in charge of Bexi Fabric Mohammad Zakaria said they had brought world class bed sheets at reasonable prices. “The consumers can buy bed sheets ranging from Tk. 1,200 to Tk. 2,500, panjabis from Tk. 1,650 to Tk. 2,500, lungis from Tk. 350 to Tk. 2,250, and shirt pieces from Tk. 350 to Tk. 1,200,” he added.
“The response from the consumers has been very good and the demand for Bexi products has made us happy,” Zakaria said.
He, however, added that they are yet to reach the satisfactory level of sales like in the previous year. Senior executive (sales) of Navana Furniture Md Arif Islam said they have brought a number of new items to the trade fair, but yet to receive the desired response. “We're offering 15 per cent discount on the occasion of the trade fair,” he added.
The fair is scheduled to remain open every day from 10 am to 9 pm till January 31.
On the weekends and other government holidays, it will remain open from 10 am to 10 pm. The entry tickets cost Tk. 30 for adults and Tk. 20 for children.

Biggest trade expo misses the buzz

The Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF) 2016 is yet to gain momentum as sales are nothing to write home about, even though there is currently no political volatility, visitors and participants pointed out. The Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) has organised the countrys biggest trade extravaganza, now in its 21st year, with the aim to attract foreign buyers. Talking to The Independent, an EPB point man at the DITF Information Centre said they were expecting a heavier rush from tomorrow. The DITF usually goes into full gear in the last two weeks of the month-long fair. This is due to the issue of financial availability for the consumers, he said. Adequate numbers of police and RAB personnel are on guard, he added. Besides Bangladesh, 21 other countries, including India, Pakistan, China, Malaysia, Iran, Thailand, the USA, Turkey, Singapore, Australia, the UK, South Korea, Germany and the UAE, are also taking part in the trade show. The fair organisers have allocated some 111 pavilions, 57 mini pavilions, 80 premier pavilions and 276 stalls for the participants this year. An array of products are at display at the fair, including machinery, carpets, cosmetics and beauty products, electrical and electronic goods, jute and leather goods, footwear, sports goods, sanitary wears, toys, watches, jewellery, ceramic items, local apparels, processed foods, fast foods, furniture and handicrafts. Local producers from remote areas of Bangladesh, who otherwise do not have the financial strength to participate in international trade fairs, also have the opportunity to showcase their products to foreign buyers. On the other hand, overseas participants also get the opportunity to display their products to consumers in Bangladesh, where the domestic market for consumer goods has been expanding in recent years. The foreign participants can also showcase their state-of-the-art technologies to the local producers and exporters. Besides, the participants will be able to identify prospective business contacts at the expo. A visit to the fair on Wednesday revealed that stalls like Best Buy of RFL and Korean stall selling crockeries were a huge draw. Besides, the Thai pavilion with its array of vanity bags and fancy items was a big hit with the women. The visitors also made a beeline for the Indian pavilion, especially for Kashmiri shawls. Pavilion in charge of Bexi Fabric Mohammad Zakaria said they had brought world class bed sheets at reasonable prices. The consumers can buy bed sheets ranging from Tk. 1,200 to Tk. 2,500, panjabis from Tk. 1,650 to Tk. 2,500, lungis from Tk. 350 to Tk. 2,250, and shirt pieces from Tk. 350 to Tk. 1,200, he added. The response from the consumers has been very good and the demand for Bexi products has made us happy, Zakaria said. He, however, added that they are yet to reach the satisfactory level of sales like in the previous year. Senior executive (sales) of Navana Furniture Md Arif Islam said they have brought a number of new items to the trade fair, but yet to receive the desired response. Were offering 15 per cent discount on the occasion of the trade fair, he added. The fair is scheduled to remain open every day from 10 am to 9 pm till January 31. On the weekends and other government holidays, it will remain open from 10 am to 10 pm. The entry tickets cost Tk. 30 for adults and Tk. 20 for children.