The second biennial German trade show will begin in Dhaka on October 27 to showcase products of both the countries, organisers said at a press conference yesterday.
The three-day fair at the city’s Bangabandhu International Conference Centre will showcase products at 100 German and Bangladeshi stalls.
The aim of the show is to highlight the ever-growing bilateral trade between the two countries, said Saiful Islam, president of Bangladesh German Chamber of Commerce and Industry, at the briefing at National Press Club.
“We are expecting more than 25,000 visitors during the fair. Some important seminars will also be held on the sidelines of the exhibition,” Islam said.
He said the chamber will organise a seminar on “emerging Bangladesh” in Berlin for branding the country during the upcoming visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Germany from October 23 to 25.
Two Nobel laureates — Prof Muhammad Yunus of Bangladesh and German climate change expert Prof Wolfgang Cramer — are scheduled to deliver lectures at the seminars in Dhaka, he said.
Islam said the two way trade was at $4 billion in fiscal 2010-11, when 80 percent trade was in favour of Bangladesh.
He said a Bangladeshi business delegation held roadshows in five major cities in Germany from September 26 to October 2 to attract more German investment and customers to Bangladesh.
“At the roadshows I faced a lot of queries from the German entrepreneurs about infrastructure, and gas and power situation in Bangladesh,” he said.
Bangladesh exported goods worth $3.43 billion to Germany and imported goods worth $691.30 million in fiscal 2010-11, according to the commerce ministry of Bangladesh.
“Business and political relationships between the two countries are going parallel,” he said.
At the briefing, German Ambassador to Bangladesh Holger Michael said, a lot of new avenues have opened up between the two countries for strong political and business relationships.
He said Germany’s Federal President Christian Wulff is expected to visit Bangladesh at the end of November this year. This will be the first visit by a German head of state in 25 years, he added.
Daniel Seidl, executive director of the chamber, Saria Sadique, senior vice-president, and Syed Sadaquat Hossain, vice-president, among others, spoke at the briefing.
-With The Daily Star input
