The 2013 Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF) concluded yesterday, with manufacturers

receiving export orders worth Tk 157 crore.

The organisers forecasted export orders to rise around 5 percent this year from the previous
year's Tk 43.18 crore, but it increased 263 percent. We have been very successful in receiving
export orders, Commerce Minister GM Quader said at the fair's closing ceremony.
The minister stressed the importance of product diversification to attract foreign buyers, adding
that the government, too, is working on this, by exploring new markets. Quader assured that the
fair, organised by the Export Promotion Bureau and commerce ministry every year at Sher-eBangla Nagar for the past 18 years, would soon be given a permanent venue complete with
structures at Purbachol.
However, the minister expressed deep condolences over the death of Rony Das Gupta, 22, a
final-year management student of Tejgaon College, due to the collapse of Partex Plastics'
makeshift stall at the fair. We will be more careful from next year to prevent such unexpected
events, the minister said.
The fair provides a strong platform for the country's vendors, said ABM Abul Kashem, chairman
of the parliamentary standing committee on commerce ministry.
Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed, president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce
and Industry, stressed the need to explore new markets, while urging the government to designate
a permanent venue for the fair.

It helps a country to earn foreign exchange without which she cannot import such goods as are
necessary for local consumption. It strengths economic ties between the host country and the
foreign participants. Besides the people of the host country have an opportunity to know the
quality of various local products and compare those with foreign manufactures.
Position of Bangladesh: Bangladesh is making her export position consolidated in the
competitive international marker, facing all kinds of challenges arising out of the globalization of
the economy as well as trade. In the challenges world the economic scenario of the country has

been steadily attracting the attention of the foreign butters due to the quality of export products
and helping diversity of the exportable items.
Background of the fair: The International trade fair was held on first December in 1995, in
Dhaka. The venue was Sher-e-bangla nagar premises. It was under the supervision of Bangladesh
Export Promotion Bureau. Items of different countries including host country Bangladesh were
exhibited. From this Dhaka International Trade Fair started its adventure.
The initiative of Export promotion Bureau: The International Trade Fair has been taking place in
the capital since 1995. Under the joint auspices of the Ministry of commerce and the Export
Promotion Bureau (EPB). To recall, the first export fair in the country was held at Cox's Bazar in
1976. Later it continued taking place regularly at Chandrima in the capital till 1986. After the
interval of many years the Dhaka International Trade Fair is regularly being held at She-e-bangla
Nagar with objective of projecting local products to buyers from home and abroad. The first
DITF was held in an area of 12 lakh square feet. In the consecutive years the area was extended.
The buyers, visitor and participants: The number of participants and visitors in the trade fair has
been increasing every year. In 1995, a total of 68,665 people visited the fair. The number
favorably increased to 25 lacs in the year 2003. The number of visitors increased further in 2004
despite a number of hartals by the opposition. A fire broke out in the fair premises, which causes
concern among the participants. It gutted five stalls in the fair. In the last DITF many friendly
countries such as India, china, Japan, East Germany, Malaysia, Indonesia, Korea and other
countries participated. They displayed models of their exportable products and availed
themselves of the opportunity to popularize their products with importers from different
countries.
Exhibition of Bangladeshi products: As the host country, Bangladesh exhibited agricultural
and other products. Bangladesh being an agricultural country exhibits a good number of
agricultural products like carpets, mats, show-pieces, bags, ready made garments, Rajshahi silk,
Dhakai Muslim, leather goods, tea, processed food etc. Non-traditional items like flowers, cut
flowers and other cottage industries were exhibited in the fair. Works of art, crafts, handicrafts
and industrial products are placed at different corners of the fair. Temporary stalls and restaurants
of fashionable edible items are installed to make visitors acquainted with varieties of
foods. There are also arrangements for recreation of the visitors acquainted with attaining higher
priority in information technology sector. A number of companies have been working on

computer and they have already produced computer programming in Bangla letters. This is a
great success in our SMS technology. Its commercial aspect is very much potential in the export
field of Bangladesh.
Economic and commercial value: International trade fair has importance from many sides.
Such kind of initiative has been increasing economic flourishment of Bangladesh. Trade and
commerce will increase with foreign countries if we can expand it. Many foreign countries take
part in this fair. If our local goods are exhibited in the fair, their demand will increase in the
international markets and as a result much foreign currency can be earned. It gives scope to the
businessmen and industrialists of the host country to know their counterparts in other parts of the
globe, to know their mode of talk and approach and above all dealings.
Cultural Value: The visitors get a fair chance to enjoy themselves on payment of a small fee at
the entrance. They get an opportunity to know men , manners, fashions and culture of different
countries and nations without undertaking the trouble of personal visit to the said
countries. Consequently there happens the friendly exchange of social and cultural relationship
between the host and guest countries.
International trade fair is very much useful for developing trade of our countries. It should be
held every year to encourage the importers form countries to import goods from our country. It
will widen scope for the sale of industrial goods and will thereby create market for our
exportable good.