No DITF being held in January

The Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF) is unlikely to be held in the first month of the New Year 2021 because of the raging pandemic.

Traditionally, the fair starts on 1 January every year, but this time decision on the fair is yet to be made by the authorities concerned.

However, it is certain that no trade fair is going to be held with the arrival of the New Year.

The fair organiser Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) has called a board meeting on Sunday to take a decision in this regard.

EPB Director General Mahbubur Rahman told The Business Standard, "The fair will not be held in January. We are yet to decide when it will take place."

Earlier, EPB decided to relocate the trade fair from Agargaon to Bangladesh China Friendship Exhibition Center at Purbachal in the capital.

It is learnt that construction of the exhibition centre will be completed by this month.

EPB usually invites foreign companies six months ahead of the fair.

The EPB director said the participation of foreign companies in the fair is important.

"We haven't invited them yet. In the past, it had been observed that foreign companies usually would not respond if they were given less than a six-month time."

"The month of Ramadan will start four months later. The date of the fair will be decided considering all these aspects," he added.

EPB acting secretary Mahmudul Hasan told TBS, "The board meeting will be held on Sunday. The fair will be held in Purbachal. The fair was supposed to be held on January 1, 2021. The fair might be held in March, April or any other time once the situation is normal."

The Dhaka International Trade Fair first kicked off in 1995. Since the start, local companies used the opportunity of trade fair to popularise their brands.

The city dwellers also showed great enthusiasm to visit the fair.

A good number of enterprises from 21 countries took part in the 25th edition of the fair last year, but unfortunately, EPB failed to say how much export order was placed at that fair.

However, Tk200 crore export orders were received at the last to last year trade fair.

The EPB director general said they would organise another online fair on exportable products in March. Buyers from different countries will be able to order products online.