National SME Product Fair begins Nov 20

The 9th National SME Product Fair – organised by the SME Foundation – will take place from November 20 to November 27 at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center in Dhaka.

Small and medium enterprises seeking to participate in the fair, which features 100 per cent local products, should apply within October 21. Keeping the Covid-19 situation in mind, the authorities will make arrangements for 300 stalls while maintaining proper hygiene measures.

The fair will have a Secretariat stall for highlighting SME Foundation’s activities among visitors, a press release said on Sunday. Some of the stalls will be designated centres for media, blood donation, meeting point of buyers and sellers, and institutions of the industries ministry.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is set to inaugurate the programme as the Chief Guest. Selected entrepreneurs will be awarded crests, certificates and cheques at the fair for their contribution.

As per the National Industrial Policy, the fair will focus on “Highly Prioritised” and “Prioritised” sectors such as agriculture, food processing, agricultural manufacturing tools, ICT, software, leather and leather products, light engineering, jute or jute products, plastic, handicrafts, artificial jewelry, toys and agar industry.

The fair will not allow any sale of foreign or imported products, and exclusively feature local products or services from small and medium industries throughout Bangladesh.

The SME Foundation also plans to organise several seminars and exhibitions at the event to address the problems and possibilities of the SME sector.