The month-long 31st Chattogram International Trade Fair (CITF) 2024, organised by the Chattogram Chamber of Commerce & Industry (CCCI), will kick off on Thursday at the Railway Polo Grounds in the city’s Tigerpass area.
Besides, the fifth Chattogram IT Fair will be held on February 18-19 at the World Trade Center in the port city. CCCI President Omar Hazzaz announced the schedule at a press conference at the Bangabandhu Conference Hall in Agrabad’s World Trade Center on Monday.
CITF Co-Chairman Ahid Siraj Chowdhury Swapan, PHP Family Director Mohammed Akther Parvez, Anjan Shekhar Das, Zahirul Islam Chowdhury Alamgir, Society of Chittagong IT Professionals Abdullah Farid, and others were present at the event.
Hazzaz further said, “There is a shortage of playgrounds in the port city. Many playgrounds are being occupied, which is our failure. The chamber has been demanding every year for the construction of an international standard expo center.
“There are proposals to set up expo centers at several places, including in the Jungle Salimpur. As the fair is being organised in the playground, after the fair, the playground will be cleaned and returned to its original state.”
A statement from Chairman of the fair AKM Akhtar Hossain read, “Education Minister Barrister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury will be the chief guest at the opening ceremony of CITF on February 15 at 4pm.
“State Minister for Commerce Ahsanul Islam Titu will inaugurate the fair. MA Latif, member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Shipping Ministry will be the special guest. Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce & Industries (FBCCI) President Mahbubul Alam will be the guest of honor.”
He added, “Sixteen premier pavilions, 56 premier stalls, 94 gold stalls, 48 mega stalls, 11 food stalls, and 400 stalls in 3 zones will participate in the CITF. At the fair, entrepreneurs and businessmen from India, Thailand, and Iran will display their products. This month-long fair will run daily from 10am to 10pm.
“The ticket price has been fixed at Tk 20 per person. Free tickets will be made available to students up to class seven, which can be used throughout the month for the fair. Almost all schools in the city have already distributed free tickets to their students.”
Entrepreneurs and traders from different countries are participating in this fair with their products, including India, Thailand, and Iran will display and sell their products at stalls.
As a part of social responsibility, one stall each has been allocated free of cost to several service organisations, including Bishwo Shahitto Kendro, Sandhani, Chattogram Deaf Sports, and Social Welfare Organisation.
The fair will have a Bangabandhu Pavilion, featuring the autobiography of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and books and publications about the 1971 Liberation War with the help of the Baatighar.
He pointed out that since 1993, the chamber has been organising the CITF to promote local products. In this iteration of the fair, small and medium entrepreneurs from different regions of the country will display their products as well.
Millions of people will visit this fair and buy their favorite products.
