An opportunity to get wider market for the Bangladeshi non-traditional products in Nepal has been created following a Bangladesh-Nepal Expo that concluded in Kathmandu on Sunday last.
Bangladesh Ambassador to Nepal Mashfee Binte Shams observed that trade between the two countries is likely to get a boost from the present rate of 12 to 15 per cent per year as business communities attending the fair got good response for the products like ceramic, melamine and plastic.
"Nepalese had so far the information that Bangladesh is a country to produce only readymade garment and Jamdani like products. They have for the first time come to know that the country is a producer of multifarious products," she told the FE over phone on Monday.
The Ambassador said the four-day expo where a big business delegation attended has bridged the gap that existed due to lack of information between businessmen of the two countries
The Bangladesh Embassy in Nepal organised the Bangladesh-Nepal Expo 2015 for the first time allowing 80 business organisations of the country to show case their products to the Himalayan nation.
The products included pharmaceuticals, readymade garments, handicrafts, frozen sea foods, ceramic, textiles, food & beverage, cosmetics and herbal products. Some information technology (IT) firms, educational institutions, medical colleges, hospitality sector and publishers also took part at the fair.
Twenty Nepalese organisations also participated in the expo that was inaugurated by the Bangladesh Ambassador to Nepal on February 11. Minister for Commerce and Supplies of Nepal Mr. Sunil Bahadur Thapa was the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony.
A foreign ministry press release, meanwhile, said the Nepalese Minister and the Bangladesh Ambassador called upon the business communities of the two countries to explore the immense potential for expanding trade and business relations between Bangladesh and Nepal for mutual benefit.
It is evident that earlier several trade fairs were organised in Nepalese capital but those were held in small scale.
The Bangladesh Ambassador said the embassy has taken a plan to organise the expo every year to explore the trade and business opportunities between Bangladesh and Nepal following the experience of enthusiasm created among the business communities.
Ms Mashfee said the trade balance between the two neighbouring countries is in favour of Nepal as the country's trade volume with Bangladesh was US $ 24 million. The total trade volume of the two countries is $ 40 million
The Ambassador said the Rangs Pharmaceutical, Flora Software and Pran among others, private sector companies, have assessed good opportunities to export their products in Nepal
"We are planning to organise the expo every year and work on the tariff barriers to be discussed during the commerce secretary level meetings," she added.
The Expo also included a food festival showcasing Bangladeshi traditional food items including Biryani and various types of Pithas. The Expo concluded with a Bangladesh-Nepal Friendship Concert where a number of singers and bands from the two countries participated. The main attraction of the concert was a performance by Nagar Baul James.
Around 10,000 people visited the Expo that was widely acclaimed by the participants and the visitors alike.
The Expo was co-orgnaised by Synthesis, Nepal and Wren Networking, Bangladesh; and the Concert was co-organised by Moods Media and Events PVt. Ltd. Nepal and eMakers, Bangladesh. The events of the Expo and the Concert were live telecast in Bangladesh and Nepal by SATV and Himalaya TV respectively.
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