Staff Correspondent

Month-long Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF) is going to begin on Sunday at its new venue Bangabandhu Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Centre (BBCFEC) in Purbachal, Dhaka.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to inaugurate the fair.

At a press conference yesterday, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi said, “DITF plays an important role in our domestic and international trade. The main objective of this international trade fair is to present the products of Bangladesh in the international market. Last year, we received sport orders for Tk 2 billion exports.”

The minister shared the government target of $67 billion export earnings in the fiscal year 2022-23 amid the ongoing global economic crisis.

"The government has set an export revenue target of $67 billion for this fiscal year. It already achieved a 10 percent export growth till November," he said.

Some 331 stalls and pavilions have been installed while some 17 organisations from 10 countries including Singapore, Indonesia, Korea and India will also take part in the fair.

The in-hall cafeteria has capacity to accommodate 500 participants at a time while 23 food corners will serve dishes inside the fair.

Dutch Bangla Bank, Islami Bank Bangladesh, Janata Bank and Mercantile Bank will provide financial services at the fair.

Four mobile court teams will be at the DITF to ensure security and management of the fair while significant numbers of the closed circuit cameras will keep real time monitoring.

Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation has introduced 50 shuttle buses to carry passengers between Kuril and the venue of the trade fair.

The bus fare has been fixed at Tk 35 per passenger and the passengers will get a 50 per cent discount if the fare is paid through bKash.

The entry fee for the DITF is Tk 40 for an adult and Tk 20 for children while the expo arena will be open from 9 am to 10 pm every day for the visitors.