Dhaka International Trade Fair to begin on Jan 1, preparations underway

The 31st edition of the Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF), Bangladesh's flagship annual trade exposition, is set to begin on 1 January 2027 at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Center in Purbachal.

Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muqtadir will inaugurate the fair as chief guest, while Commerce Secretary Sharaf Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury and Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Administrator Md Fazlul Haque will attend as special guests, said sources at the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB).

The DITF has been organised since 1995. Although the fair was held in Agargaon for many years, the commerce ministry and the EPB have been jointly organising it in Purbachal, Rupganj of Narayanganj district since 2022.

To organise this year's month-long fair, the EPB on 29 October invited tenders under six categories for the supply of products, services and infrastructure-related works.

The works include construction of fair infrastructure, decoration, security, cleanliness and promotional activities.

According to the tender notice, the EPB started receiving bids from interested firms on Tuesday. The deadline for submission is 4:00 pm on 17 November. The tenders will be opened at 11:00 am on 18 November in the presence of the bidders.

EPB Vice Chairman Mohammad Hasan Arif said the organisation has held meetings with Bangladesh missions abroad on the Zoom platform and sent them letters to increase foreign participation in the fair.

"We believe there will be a good response from foreign companies this time," he told Prothom Alo on Wednesday.

Every year, a product is declared the "Product of the Year" at the opening ceremony of the trade fair. Paper and packaging was named the Product of the Year for 2026.

Asked whether a Product of the Year has been selected for the upcoming fair, Hasan Arif said it has not yet been finalised, but work is underway.

Source: Prothom Alo