The 19th Chittagong International Trade Fair 2011(CITF) begins today at the Railway Pologround to promote local products in the international market.
Commerce Minister Faruk Khan is scheduled to inaugurate the month-long fair organised by the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Thai Ambassador Tassanawadee Miancharoen and President of Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry AK Azad will be present as special guests at the inaugural ceremony.
Sprawling on a venue of four lakh square feet, the fair this year will have 36 pavilions — eight premier gold pavilions, four mini-mega pavilions, eight premier pavilions and 16 standard pavilions — and a total of 263 stalls, Chittagong chamber leaders said.
CCCI President Murshed Murad Ibrahim said the CITF is the largest trade fair organised by private initiative.
He said the fair will offer greater scope for interaction between the local and foreign entrepreneurs to widen trade connectivity, while the local traders get a good opportunity for showcasing their products.
He said the fair committee would take special arrangement this year for the foreign tourists who visit the city on the event of World Cup cricket.
Co-Chairman of CITF Committee and CCCI Director Ashiq Bhuiyan briefed the journalists about different aspects of the fair.
“Thailand will be the partner country of the fair for the eighth time, while there will be a large pavilion for Thailand on around 4500 square feet space at the fair. Traders from Pakistan, Iran, Korea and United Arab Emirates and Kashmir will join the show with large pavilions,” Ashiq said. A stall will be allotted free of charge to offer the visitors to cast vote for the Sundarbans to keep the world’s largest mangrove forest among seven wonders of nature, said the co-chairman.
