The curtain fell on the Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF) last Tuesday on a note of disappointment. Anyone can see the reason behind this disappointment. In time of political chaos, when people even have to postpone some of their most regular activities, visiting a fair -- trade or otherwise -- proves a luxury to many. Poor attendance at the DITF was no surprise. Naturally sales and orders dropped by 70 per cent compared to those of previous years. However, the export orders received by manufacturers registered a jump of 18 per cent from the previous year's Tk 800 million to Tk 950 million. Only on Fridays and Saturdays, official holidays, did people turn out in great numbers to visit the fair. Since the violent political programmes started almost right from the beginning of January when the fair also opens, visitors got some breathing space only on weekly holidays and they made most of the opportunity. Clearly, if there was no political unrest, the DITF could have been a success in the traditional sense. Stalls would have enjoyed brisk business and made their expected profits.
Now this international trade fair held at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar by itself is a misnomer. Why? Because it is an admixture of village fair and trade fair with retail sale dominating the process. In fact, a trade fair should have been an altogether different proposition. When the tag of 'international' is added to a fair, it means international participation. Sure enough, companies from abroad erect their pavilions at the fair and showcase their products. Local customers get the opportunity to purchase some of the most sought-after original items directly from such outlets of the company concerned. But the most reputed trade fairs are not known for such retail sale and purchase. The emphasis is on making products familiar to the potential customers. Even more important is the promotion of domestic products to the outside world. Business people from around the world are supposed to gather at the venue in order to choose and place orders for products from local companies. That it does not at all happen is not the contention. The argument is that if this happens, it is limited and on a low key.
Sure enough some companies from Bangladesh have undertaken ground-breaking moves in order to raise the quality of products. In the area of pharmaceuticals, plastic and of course garments, such moves are highly prominent. The next candidate for international recognition is certainly footwear. Unfortunately, the country's attempt at promoting such products on occasions like trade fairs has remained woefully limited. The need is to make foreign buyers convinced of the merit of products manufactured in the country. Branding Bangladesh ought to be the ultimate goal. On that count, such trade fairs have not contributed much.
But given the right impetus, planning and promotional activities, trade fairs like the one held in Dhaka can draw international attention far more widely. The result can be hundreds or even millions of dollars business during the month-long fair. There will be no need for extending time. But this can only happen in a situation of political stability. Economy of the country has been bleeding and the trade fair this time cannot expect any exemption. Unless political leaderships on both sides of the divide come to realise the damage being done to the country's economic health, it will have to pay a heavy price like this in all areas of life.
Sad tale of DITF
FE Team | Published: February 13, 2015 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00
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