People started to visit the Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF) on the second day of the month-long exposition yesterday in a boost to the organisers and the participating companies.

Still, many companies were found busy in setting up their stalls and decorating their stores to display their products and attract crowds.

Amid this scenario, a significant number of visitors came to the fairground at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar yesterday.

The visitors were mostly interested in home appliances and crockeries, with the Italiano pavilion drawing the attention of female crowds.  Italiano, a brand of Pran-RFL Group, is showcasing kitchen appliances.

"I went into the pavilion as I am looking for some new variety of plastic products", said Rubina Islam, a visitor who hails from Tejgaon.

"Italiano has introduced colourful kitchen appliances and offering discounts. Moreover, the price is reasonable," she said.

Sohel Rahman, a sales executive of a store selling winter cloths and Kashmiri shawls, said people started to gather on the fair premises but they are not into buying mood yet. "They are mostly looking for discounted products."

A large gathering of the visitors were seen at different stalls selling garment items. Home Textile, a local brand, is offering discounts to allure visitors.

"We have brought in some new collections which will not be available in our showrooms in the next two months," said Habibur Rahman, a sales executive of the company.

At Home Textile, visitors can get a bed cover at Tk 600 and the average price of the item is between Tk 1,500 and Tk 2,000. The country's biggest international trade fair is aimed at showcasing local products to foreign buyers in order to boost exports. This time companies from home and abroad are displaying their wares in nearly 600 stalls.

The commerce ministry and Bangladesh Export Promotion Bureau, the organisers, allocated about 50 stalls to foreign companies and the rest to local companies.

Scores of companies from 17 foreign countries, including China, the US, India, South Korea, Iran, Turkey, Nepal, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Iran, Pakistan, Mauritius, Singapore, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, are taking part in the fair, reported Xinhua.

The exhibition showcases a wide range of local and foreign products, including machinery, equipment and materials for agriculture and gardening, carpet, chemical and allied products, cosmetics, dairy products and electronic items, said the news agency quoting an official of the EPB.

The fair is open to visitors from 9:00am to 10:00pm. The entry fee for adults is Tk 30 and Tk 20 for minors.