http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2009/02/08/news0728.htm
DITF concludes: Manufacturers receive Tk 21cr export order
UNB, Dhaka
Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF) 2009 concluded yesterday with the country’s manufacturers receiving export orders worth about Tk 21 crore.
“This is (spot orders) not huge, but it shows our local products have demand abroad,” Commerce Minister Lt Col (retd) Faruk Khan told the closing ceremony of the fair. He said the trade fair successfully ended drawing 30-37 lakh visitors enabling them an opportunity to compare the quality of local and foreign products.
Faruk announced that the foundation stone for setting up a permanent fair venue with necessary infrastructures would be laid within the next 3-4 months at the old airport. The Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) in cooperation with the Ministry of Commerce has been arranging the fair for the last 14 years at Agargaon with temporary arrangements.
Referring to the fast growth of apparel export, Faruk hoped that Bangladesh would be on top of RMG exporters of the world in the next 3-4 years.
Earlier on January 1, President Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed inaugurated the month-long fair, which was later extended for seven days. A total of 467 companies and firms, including 22 from 12 countries, took part in the fair. The participating countries include India, Pakistan, Singapore, Thailand, the USA, the UAE, Japan and Germany. Sri Lanka was the partner country of the DITF-2009. Commerce Secretary Feroz Ahmed said the government has initiated to diversify its export basket to keep up the country’s export growth.
President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Annisul Huq urged the government to formulate a plan to relocate industries from Dhaka to other places of the country as there has been an incredible industrial growth.
He said it is possible for the country to earn $25 billion a year through apparel export by developing the country’s infrastructures. “Now 12,000 trucks ply between Dhaka and Chittagong port which will have to be increased to 60,000, while the factories from 4,000 to 12,000 to achieve that target,” he told the function.
EPB Vice Chairman Shahab Ullah also spoke on the occasion.
