Export orders worth Tk 138 crore have been received and goods worth Tk 40 crore sold at the month-long 26th Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF) that ended on Monday.
At the same time, a Tk 1.5-crore Value Added Tax (VAT) has been collected from the sale of goods at the fair.
The information was revealed at the closing ceremony of the trade fair held in Bangabandhu Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Centre at Purbachal in the capital yesterday.
Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi expressed satisfaction over customers’ presence at the fair.
“Both traders and we, the organisers, were seized by confusion about the success of the fair, but it is more successful than our expectations.”
Attending the event, Textile and Jute Minister Golam Dastagir Gazi said: “We are grateful to our prime minister for giving guidance about the fair. People participated more in this fair as it gave them a sort of entertainment. Trade fair becomes a fun fair for the visitors, especially for the children.”
“If the road infrastructure was good and Covid was dwindling, then more people would visit the fair.”
FBCCI president Jashim Uddin said: “If we want to promote business, we need better infrastructure. We hope more business event will take place here.”
“Next year people’s participation will increase,” he expected.
Senior Commerce Secretary Tapan Kanti Ghosh thanked everyone involved for making the fair a success.
Meanwhile, the Customs, Excise and VAT Commissionerate, Dhaka (East) located at the trade fair collected Tk 1.5 crore VAT.
Besides, Islami Bank and Janata Bank have collected VAT invoices online. Earlier it used to be collected manually.
The two banks set up their stalls at the fair ground and collected government revenues in the form of VAT, tax and other fees through Automated Invoice System.
The businesses could regularly make their transactions and give VAT and other fees through these bank booths.
The trade fair did not take place last year due to the coronavirus pandemic. The fair was held at the permanent venue in Purbachal for the first time this year.
As many as 227 companies from 11 countries participated in the fair.
Apart from Bangladesh, companies from India, Pakistan, Turkey, Thailand and South Korea took part in the fair.
