Dhaka trade fair yet to gain momentum

The Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF) 2017 is yet to gain momentum despite the present political stability. The Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) has organised the country’s biggest trade extravaganza, now in its 22nd year, with the aim of attracting foreign buyers.
Talking to The Independent, an EPB official at the DITF Information Centre said that they are expecting a heavier rush from Saturday. “The DITF usually goes into full gear in the last two weeks of the month. This is because consumers have more money available then,” 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 month-long trade show. All sorts of products are on display at the fair, including machinery, carpets, cosmetics and beauty products, electrical and electronic goods, jute and leather goods, footwear, sports goods, sanitary wear, toys, watches, jewellery, ceramic items, local apparels, processed food, fast food, furniture and handicrafts.
Local producers from remote areas of Bangladesh, who otherwise lack the financial strength to participate in international trade fairs, get the opportunity to showcase their products to foreign buyers through the DITF.
On the other hand, overseas participants are able to display their products to consumers in Bangladesh, where the domestic market for consumer goods has been expanding in recent years. Foreign participants can also showcase their state-of-the-art technologies to local producers and exporters.
Moreover, the participants can identify prospective business contacts at the expo.
A visit to the fair yesterday revealed that ‘Best Buy’ of RFL and Korean stalls selling items of crockery were a huge draw. The Thai pavilion with its array of handbags and fancy items was also a big hit with ladies. The visitors also made a beeline for the Indian pavilion, especially for Kashmiri shawls.
Mohammad Soheb Ahmed, pavilion manager of ‘Best Buy’, said that they are offering 10 per cent discount on all items of crockery and are getting a good response from the consumers.
Mohammad Zakaria, in-charge of the Bexi Fabric pavilion, told The Independent that they are selling world-class bedsheets at reasonable prices. “The consumers can buy bedsheets 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. 400 to Tk. 1,200,” he said.
“The response from consumers has been very good and the demand for Bexi products has made us happy,” he added. He, however, mentioned that they are yet to reach a satisfactory level of sales as the fair has just started.
Md Arif Islam, senior executive (sales) of Navana Furniture, said that they have brought a number of new items to the trade fair, but are yet to get the desired response. “We’re offering 15 per cent discount on the occasion of the trade fair,” he added.

Dhaka trade fair yet to gain momentum

The Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF) 2017 is yet to gain momentum despite the present political stability. The Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) has organised the countrys biggest trade extravaganza, now in its 22nd year, with the aim of attracting foreign buyers. Talking to The Independent, an EPB official at the DITF Information Centre said that they are expecting a heavier rush from Saturday. The DITF usually goes into full gear in the last two weeks of the month. This is because consumers have more money available then, 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 month-long trade show. All sorts of products are on display at the fair, including machinery, carpets, cosmetics and beauty products, electrical and electronic goods, jute and leather goods, footwear, sports goods, sanitary wear, toys, watches, jewellery, ceramic items, local apparels, processed food, fast food, furniture and handicrafts. Local producers from remote areas of Bangladesh, who otherwise lack the financial strength to participate in international trade fairs, get the opportunity to showcase their products to foreign buyers through the DITF. On the other hand, overseas participants are able to display their products to consumers in Bangladesh, where the domestic market for consumer goods has been expanding in recent years. Foreign participants can also showcase their state-of-the-art technologies to local producers and exporters. Moreover, the participants can identify prospective business contacts at the expo. A visit to the fair yesterday revealed that Best Buy of RFL and Korean stalls selling items of crockery were a huge draw. The Thai pavilion with its array of handbags and fancy items was also a big hit with ladies. The visitors also made a beeline for the Indian pavilion, especially for Kashmiri shawls. Mohammad Soheb Ahmed, pavilion manager of Best Buy, said that they are offering 10 per cent discount on all items of crockery and are getting a good response from the consumers. Mohammad Zakaria, in-charge of the Bexi Fabric pavilion, told The Independent that they are selling world-class bedsheets at reasonable prices. The consumers can buy bedsheets 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. 400 to Tk. 1,200, he said. The response from consumers has been very good and the demand for Bexi products has made us happy, he added. He, however, mentioned that they are yet to reach a satisfactory level of sales as the fair has just started. Md Arif Islam, senior executive (sales) of Navana Furniture, said that they have brought a number of new items to the trade fair, but are yet to get the desired response. Were offering 15 per cent discount on the occasion of the trade fair, he added.