DITF drawing large crowds ahead of its closing on 31 Jan

The 29th edition of the Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF) is becoming more vibrant with just a few days left for its end with the growing number of visitors alongside huge buying and selling of commodities.

Since the DITF is set to end on 31 January, a huge number of visitors throng the fair premises at Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Center in Purbachal everyday braving the chilling weather much to the delight of the sellers.

DITF organizers and participants said there is a demand for both domestic products as well as foreign products at the fair.

Talking to BSS at the fair venue, Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) Assistant Director and DITF In-charge Abu Hasan hoped that products worth Tk500 crore will be sold in this year's fair. 

He said that the presence of visitors and buyers in this year's fair is much higher compared to the previous years. 

Hasan said everyday about 100,000 to 150,000 visitors gather at the fair venue. As the last moment approaches, the crowd also increases in tandem. In line with this, the buying and selling of commodities are also increasing. 

During the holidays, the EPB official said the crowd as well as buying and selling of commodities go beyond expectations. 

The in-charge of the trade fair said that every year some new innovations are included in the fair while this time initiatives were taken in the fair to commemorate the martyrs of the bloody July-August Revolution and the sacrifices of the revolutionaries.

Among these initiatives, three separate stalls were named after July Chattar, Chhatrish Chattar and Youth Pavilion. Various slogans, graffiti and banners of the July Revolution are being displayed here.

People of all classes observe these with great interest. Besides, some other special features of the fair are the concept of Senior Citizens Corner, Sourcing Zone, Women Entrepreneurs Corner and Children's Park.

Hasan informed that a team of 30 members of EPB has been continuing constant monitoring to determine which participants are doing better while whose products are of high demand. 

Based on their recommendations, initiatives have already been taken to award 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes in 11 categories among the participants in this year's fair. 

The process in this regard has almost been completed. 

He further said that some 12 organizations from 7 countries including Turkey, Singapore, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Pakistan and India are participating in this year's fair. 

In addition, for the first time, a corner called 'Sourcing Zone' has been set up to attract foreign buyers where Bangladesh Tea Board, Bangladesh Machine Tools Factory Limited, Leathergoods and Footwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association of Bangladesh, BGMEA and BKMEA are displaying their products.

Sijan Mahmud Plabi, in-charge of BGMEA's pavilion in the sourcing zone, said, "For sourcing, we used to only participate in fairs outside the country and thus do buyer sourcing. This is for the first time we're participating in buyer sourcing at the Dhaka International Trade Fair,"

He said that high-value products of 12 foreign expensive brands are being displayed in this pavilion so that that it can be shown that these products are being made by the skilled hands of Bangladeshi workers. 

Plabi further said that at the beginning of the fair, many foreigners, foreign mission officials, donor agencies, buyer representatives visited the BGMEA pavilion and thus took contact details of the entrepreneurs.

"Perhaps they will contact the entrepreneurs and thus discuss about the possible orders," he said adding that this fair would receive a positive response for them. 

Meanwhile, while roaming around the fair venue, this correspondent found that many people from different areas of the capital have brought their families and beloved ones to the fair. 

Along with shopping, they do not forget to frame their cherished moments. Apart from this, many are coming to the trade fair having high hope of getting their favorite products at affordable prices. 

Talking to the national news agency, another visitor SM Abdullah who came to the trade fair with his family from Dhaka's Shantinagar, said he usually visits the trade fair every year. 

"The atmosphere of this year's fair is a little bit different. The parking lot this time is also spacious than before. Besides, the management is quite efficient. There is also no problem in buying tickets to enter the fair," he added.

The visitors can easily buy tickets online from staying home. Therefore, there is less hassle in buying tickets. The trade fair is also witnessing a lot of exotic products and discounts on various products.

The organizers have various initiatives to attract buyers. This time, along with domestic products, the buyers' high demand list includes carpets, shawls, exotic lamps, and foreign products for home decoration. 

Abu Hasan, in-charge of the DITF, said that in his view, besides garments and crockery items, various electronics and 'home appliance' products are being sold more at the fair.