52 countries to take part in Bangladesh’s sourcing fair

Some 1,395 buyers from 52 countries have registered to participate in the "Sourcing Bangladesh-2021 Virtual Edition", organised by the Bangladesh's Export Promotion Bureau (EPB).

"The EPB has organised the virtual expo to keep the market activities rolling while trade fairs worldwide were suspended amid the coronavirus pandemic," Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi said while inaugurating the fair at the EPB office in the capital on Monday.

The minister said, "I have been informed that some 60 reputed exporters of Bangladesh, from 13 sectors, are taking part in the virtual expo, while a notable number of potential buyers and visitors from North America, Latin America, South East Asia, Middle East, Central Asia and Africa have also registered."

Tipu Munshi further said the fair has been organised with a focus on the major export-oriented sectors in Bangladesh.

In the expo, the participating companies will showcase their products, present audio-visual and digital brochures on the virtual platform, as well as hold virtual business-to-business (B2B) meetings. The website of the fair will have a buyer-seller database for B2B meetings.

Companies in the readymade garments (RMG), leather and leather products, jute and jute products, agro and agro-processed products, home textile and home decor, pharmaceuticals, ceramics, ICT, plastic, electric and electronic products, light engineering products, furniture, furniture styles and handicrafts sectors will showcase their products in the fair.

The website of the exhibition, www.sourcing-bangladesh.com, will have a database of buyers and sellers for six months after the end of the fair. 

Webinars will be organised to exhibit potential export products, investment opportunities and benefits to attract foreign investment.

Sources within the EPB said that due to the global pandemic, physical trade fairs in various important business hubs of the world have come to a standstill. 

The online sourcing exhibition provides an opportunity for commodity and service exporters to connect with foreign buyers. 

AHM Ahsan, EPB vice-chairman, who presided over the function, said, the main objective of the fair was to create links between Bangladeshi sellers or exhibitors with potential foreign buyers. 

Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI) President Jasim Uddin said the event will serve as a bridge between Bangladesh's exporters and foreign buyers in expanding international trade in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

 Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Faruque Hassan said Bangladesh was the second largest exporting country in terms of RMG and it has been catering to almost all the major global brands and retailers for over four decades. 

Sourcing Bangladesh 2021 will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in exploring the market and retaining the momentum of the export growth, he added. 

At the beginning of the program, the commerce minister inaugurated the newly-constructed Bangabandhu Corner at the EPB office.

Commerce Secretary Tapan Kant Ghosh, among others, also spoke at the event.