President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday issued separate messages on the occasion of the month-long 27th Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF)-2023 that begins on Sunday at the new site of Bangabandhu Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Center at Purbachal in the capital.
In his message, President Abdul Hamid extended his sincere greetings and congratulations to all participants, including local and international companies, exporters and importers, and organisers.
He said a conducive and business-friendly environment is prevailing in Bangladesh due to liberal trade policy and various supports provided by the government in line with the aim to build the 'Golden Bengal' dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The president said a specific action plan has been taken to transform Bangladesh into a developed country by 2041 following the successful transition from a least developed country to a middle-income country.
He said Bangladesh has now emerged as an attractive destination for foreign entrepreneurs, investors and importers. Moreover, the implementation of several important mega projects, including the Padma Bridge, and an increase in power generation have given momentum to the economy, which is playing a supporting role in attracting foreign investments and increasing export earnings, the president added.
Abdul Hamid said the DITF has been recognised as a popular annual event for its varieties of collections, diversity of products and participation of a large number of entrepreneurs from home and abroad.
He hoped that the month-long fair would play an important role in building effective partnerships between domestic and foreign producers, buyers and sellers, exporters and importers, and investors.
In her message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, "I am happy to know that the month-long 27th Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF)-2023 begins on January 1, 2023, at the new site of Bangabandhu Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Center at Purbachal in Dhaka."
She said the present Awami League government has been working to build a hunger- and poverty-free ‘Golden Bangladesh’ as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Graduation of Bangladesh into a developing country is one of the remarkable achievements in the Mujib Year, she added.
She said Bangladesh has now become an attractive destination for domestic and foreign investors due to its liberal investment policies.
The implementation of mega projects like the Padma Bridge, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman tunnel, Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, Matarbari deep sea port, metro rail, etc will play a significant role in increasing foreign investments and export earnings, she added.
Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh having 165 million population is becoming a significant consumer market with its burgeoning middle class. Domestic consumption will further increase as Bangladesh aspires to become an upper middle-income country by 2031 and a developed and prosperous country by 2041, she added.
The prime minister said Bangladesh not only imports goods but of late, also exports quality products abroad. "Time has ripened to brand Bangladeshi products abroad. The international trade fair can play an important role in promoting domestic products to foreign buyers and informing the local entrepreneurs about the foreign products."
She believed that the 27th DITF-2023 will contribute to trade expansion, product diversification, attracting foreign investments and branding Bangladesh.
Both president and prime minister wished the trade fair a grand success.
