Dhaka int'l trade fair draws huge crowd
Show to gain momentum soon if political impasse ends: Participants
Star Business Report
Seven days into its inauguration, Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF) 2006 yesterday experienced a huge number of visitors with participants expecting considerable turnout in the coming days.The ongoing political impasse has cast a gloom over the largest trade extravaganza in the country, the participants said but hoped if the deadlock ends soon the DITF, which was inaugurated on December 2, will gain momentum in the next few days. "The number of visitors may exceed one lakh today, which coincides with the weekend," said a busy Mohammad Saheed, a cashier of ticket counters. In the last few days the DITF saw nearly 10,000 visitors a day, Saheed added. The huge rush of people causes traffic jam on Rokeya Sarani, leading to Sher-e-Bangla Nagar fair venue. Winter clothe, household appliance, jewellery and food item shops attract the visitors most yesterday. An Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) official said people failed to visit the fair in the previous days due to political programmes. "As there is no political programme today (Friday) and it's weekend, thousands of people gathered at the fair," he added. The main objective of the fair is to introduce the local products to foreign buyers. But the aim has been hampered seriously this year due to the political instability, another EPB official said. The number of foreign buyers this year will be the lowest since 2002, the officials said. A total of 418 local and foreign companies are participating in the fair, where 53 firms came from seven foreign countries. Malaysia is the partner country of the DITF 2006. Participants from India, Iran, Pakistan, Singapore, Thailand, and the USA are also taking part in the fair. EPB, the organiser of the fair, has set up 10 premier pavilions, 14 premier mini pavilions, 35 premier stalls, 46 pavilions, 240 general stalls and 10 restaurants. "I have been participating in this fair for the last couple of years...but this year it is not encouraging as yet," an Indian stone and jewellery businessman said. "Sales are not up to the mark until now," he added. Tickets are available at the entrance at Tk 10 for an adult and Tk 5 for a child. The fair, which will conclude on January 2, remains open to visitors from 10:00am to 9:00pm on weekdays and from 10:00am to 10:00pm on holidays.
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