Turkish, Kashmiri carpets draw customers at trade fair

Kashmiri and Turkish carpet sales have increased at the Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF) due to their beautiful design, durability, and popularity.

Traders at the fair said on Saturday they were getting a positive response as these carpets have high demand among customers. They also said the carpets are part of the cultural heritage in India and Turkey.

According to them, customers were buying the carpets to install those at home in the ongoing winter season for insulation and also for decoration.

Saleh Tazi, manager of Sultans’ Home, told The Business Post, “We only sell Turkish carpets in a physical store at the fair every year. At other times, we sell our products online. Our sales have increased at the fair, and customer turnout is satisfactory as well.”

Halef Ozkurt, country manager of Sultans’ Home, said, “At the DITF, we are selling various types of carpets, including prayer rugs and handmade ones.”

Salam Hossain, a visitor to the fair, said, “Both Kashmiri and Turkish carpets come with a wide range of floral designs as well as motifs of birds and trees. That is why I prefer these.”

According to a recent report by market research firm Allied Market Research, the global carpet market size was $51.9 billion in 2018 and is expected to reach $73.9 billion by 2026, registering a compound annual growth rate of 4.6 per cent from 2019 to 2026.

This year, 225 stalls, 23 pavilions, and 27 mini pavilions have been leased by local and international organisations at the month-long DITF, which remains open from 10am to 9pm daily.

Besides, the fair will remain open till 10pm on government holidays. The ticket price has been fixed at Tk 40 for adults, and Tk 20 for minors.

On January 1, the 26th DITF opened at its new venue at the Bangabandhu Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Centre in the capital’s Purbachal.