DITF 2022 to open at new venue on Jan 1

Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF) 2022 will be launched on January 1 at its new venue in the capital’s Purbachal.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the 26th edition of the fair virtually.

The fair was not organised last year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) under the commerce ministry will arrange the fair at the Bangabandhu China-Bangladesh Friendship Exhibition Centre. The previous venue at Agargaon is too small to accommodate the ever-growing number of participants and visitors.

A total of 230 small and big local and international organisations will have their stalls at the fair. 154 stalls will be set up at the Bangabandhu China-Bangladesh Friendship Exhibition Centre, and 76 on the premises outside.

EPB Vice-Chairman AHM Ahsan told The Business Post the fair would open on the first day of the new year at its permanent venue.

“We are preparing to arrange the fair successfully,” he said.

He also said it would not be difficult to accommodate the growing number of companies and visitors as the new venue has a large space.

The number of companies might decrease because of the Omicron variant, he added.

The EPB official said the entry fee for an adult has been fixed at Tk 40 while it would be Tk 20 for a child.

The bureau said 30 Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) buses would run from Kuril to the fair venue during the month-long event, and bus services would be provided at a minimum fare.

When DITF used to be arranged at Agargaon in the past, streets in the area as well as those in adjacent areas, including Mirpur and Mohammadpur, would remain severely crowded.

In addition to DITF, the venue at Purbachal was made to host various fairs and business-to-business matchmaking sessions that could facilitate domestic and international trade, thus advancing the economy.