CITF 2014 begins tomorrow

CHITTAGONG, Mar 6: The 22nd Chittagong International Trade Fair (CITF) will begin on Railway Polo Ground in the port city on Saturday. Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed is expected to attend the month-long trade fair as the chief guest.
Housing and Public Works Minister Engr Mosharraf Hossain, MA Latif, MP, and FBCCI President Kazi Akramuddin Ahmed will also present as special guests.
Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) President Mahbubul Alam disclosed this today at a press conference at the Chamber's auditorium.
It is said at the press meet that the fair will stretch on a large area of some 0.4 million acres of land.
Some 38 pavilions and 239 stalls including 12 premier gold pavilions, two mini mega pavilions, eight premier pavilions and 16 standard pavilions, 127 premier mega booths, 50 mega booths, 10 premier gold booths, 38 premier booths, 14 standard booths and three restaurants are being set up.
CCCI President said Bangladesh pioneers among the fast growing developing nations and the annual national GDP (gross domestic product) is also good achieving over 6.0 per cent growth year-on-year.
Rapid growth of industrialisation is necessary to take the country into a middle-income nation. In that field, the CCCI has been playing the role of a coordinator, he said.
"Thailand has been a partner country in the fair for the last 10 years hiring 4500 square feet accommodation. Besides, India, China and Iran put their products on display. 3600 square feet of accommodation has been sanctioned in the fair for India and other countries this year as well", he said.
"The CCCI has been working to ensure cordial investment climate, help the government fixing taxes and duties at reasonable rate to speed up the pace of industrialisation and marketing of the local produce," Mr Alam said.
The Chamber has been organising the fair every year for the last 22 years for expanding the small and medium scale industries, he said, adding, people also gather in the fair with much enthusiasm and buy local products.
The fair will continue till April 7 and will remain open from 10am to 10pm everyday.