Tofail hopeful about increased export earnings in DITF

Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed on Sunday expressed his hope that this year's Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF) will fetch more export earnings than previous year.

"The export earnings were Tk 280 crore at the DITF last year. We expect the earning will be more this year," he said at a press briefing ahead of the opening of the fair at the fair ground.

Saying that this year's fair would be safe and disciplined, the minister informed that 100 CCTV cameras would be installed in the fair venue while law enforcers would monitor round the clock.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the 23rd DITF tomorrow (Monday).

Tofail Ahmed also said this trade fair not only works for expanding trade and commerce but it has also turned a means of entertainment.

This year, a total of 589 foreign and local organisations are taking part this year's fair, the Commerce Minister mentioned.

Replying to a query from journalists, Tofail said the annual trade fair will  permanently shift to Purbachal from its present temporary venue at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in 2020.

Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) Vice Chairman Bijoy Bhattacharjee at the media briefing said the fair venue will comprise of 112 big pavilions, 77 mini pavilions and 400 stalls under various categories.

Though the trade fair will be inaugurated tomorrow (Monday), but its overall preparation is not yet completed.

At the venue, our correspondent found that workers were still passing busy time in preparing stalls and completing remaining works of a few stalls and pavilions.

Manik Miah, a stall owner at the fair, he got the approval from the ministry for stall Saturday and it will take two days more to complete the preparation.

About the preparation, DITF director Abu Hena Murshed Zaman said this fair will be more well disciplined and safer than the previous times. Five percent work of the fair is incomplete and it will be done quickly, he added.

Apart from local participants, some 43 foreign business establishments from 17 countries will display their products in this year's fair.

The countries are :India, Pakistan, China, the United States, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Malaysia, Iran, Thailand, Turkey, Singapore, Mauritius, Vietnam, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal and Hong Kong.

RU/SU/LY