Products manufactured by local companies have been drawing visitors’ attention at the month-long Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF) in Agargaon. Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) Director General Manzur Kadir told The Independent that local brands are dominating the fair this year and they are expecting a huge turnout. People are thronging the fairground during weekdays and also on weekends, he said.
A unique attraction of this year’s trade fair is the Bangabandhu Pavilion, which has been elegantly decorated to draw visitors’ attention. EPB sources said roads inside the fairground have been expanded this year to accommodate more people easily and in a convenient manner.
Nadia, a local furniture brand, has come up with some novel ideas at the trade fair. Hedayetullah, sales manager of the same brand, told The Independent that Nadia has brought interior design solutions for studio apartment owners. He said bedroom sets have so far been the most saleable item. Nadia’s prime target customers have always been middle and upper middle class people. “Last year, the sales were around Tk 2–2.5 crore. The sales have so far been flat this year. But we’re expecting a surge in sales in the last week of the fair,” he added. Hedayetullah further said they are offering 5–20 per cent discounts depending on the product category, and such special discounts are given only at the fair. Arun Majumder, assistant manager of the prominent furniture brand Hatil, said the brand has brought space-saving furniture for the first time in Bangladesh. “We offer multi-folded and easily convertible furniture with multiple uses. Such pieces of furniture can be kept at any corner of the home,” he added. These products are primarily made for small apartments, and latest technology has been used to make them durable, Majumder said. He also said the price of a sofa-cum-bed is Tk 60,000-80,000, while a bed costs Tk 60,000– 1,00,000 and a reading table costs around Tk 35,000. Hatil produces environment-friendly and smart-fit furniture for upper and upper-middle class customers. Walton, a local electronic and home appliance manufacturing brand, put up a beautifully decorated pavilion with numerous kinds of products.
Shafiqul Alam, in-charge of Walton pavilion, said the brand was offering some exclusive products like laptops, mobile phones and eco-friendly LED lights.
As much as 20 per cent discount is being offered on laptops and some gifts are also being given on purchasing other products. “Last year, we made a profit of Tk 8 crore. Our profit may increase up to Tk 15 crore this year,” he added. EPB sources mentioned that they are thinking of arranging transport services to the trade fair from next year. The motto of this year’s fair is to promote local products—especially products from the leather sector.
Leather Goods and Footwear Manufacturers’ and Exporters’ Association of Bangladesh (LFMEAB) president Saiful Islam, in a report titled “Growing prospects of Bangladesh leather industry,” mentioned that the government’s Fifth and Seventh Year Plans targeted to move
gradually from agriculture to a manufacturing-based economy by strengthening the export base and diversification, breaking into new markets with new products. He also mentioned that the country’s export policy has stressed increasing exports of higher value-added items and product-wise diversification.
In this context, the leather sector is seen as an important tool for market and product diversification. According to the Bangladesh economic review 2016, sectoral shares in GDP (2015-16) are followed by 15.33 per cent in agriculture, 31.28 per cent in industry and 53.39 per cent in the service sector. According to EPB sources, around 585 stalls, including 20 foreign stalls, and 28 pavillions have already been set up at the fairground. The fair remains open daily from 10am to 10pm. The entry fee has been fixed at Tk 30 for an adult and Tk 20 for a minor. The trade fair evoked a huge response, even though there was an allegation that some food stalls are chaging high prices from the visitors. “We’ve set up a mobile court that will charge Tk 1.5–2 lakh if any stall owner flouts the laws of the fair,” Manzur Kadir said.