CHATTOGRAM, May 29: The month-long Chittagong international trade fair will start on Tuesday in the port city after two years as the annual event could not be held in 2020 and 2021 due to coronavirus outbreak.
Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) is organising the 29th edition of Chittagong International Trade Fair (CITF-2022) at the Railway Polo Ground in the city.
Addressing a press conference here Sunday morning CCCI President Mahbubul Alam, on behalf of the organisers, said Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi will be the chief guest at the inaugural function.
He said the opening ceremony will kick off at the fair venue at the Polo Ground at 3pm Tuesday where Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) Mayor Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, FBCCCI President Jashim Uddin, former president of CCCI M A Latif, MP, and Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) Commissioner Saleh Mohammed Tanvir will be present as special guests.
This year's event will be open from 10am-10pm every day and the price of entry ticket has been fixed Tk 15 for each visitor.
Organisers said all preparations have been taken to hold the 29th CITF where five foreign countries, including Iran, India, China and Thailand will directly participate.
Apart from those nations, companies and firms from 310 other countries, including local ones, will showcase their manufactured goods and produces at the exposition.
"Besides, business people from Chattogram, as well as other parts of the country, will get a chance to exhibit their products at the international event," Mr Alam said.
"We have started the CITF at the outer stadium 29 years ago. Now, the event has passed 29 years," he noted.
The CCCI president said adequate security measures have been taken for the fair which is scheduled to be ended on June 30.
Adequate number of the police personnel will be deployed and they will be patrolling the fair venue. A temporary police camp has already been set up. The visitors will be examined with metal detectors at the entry points.
About foreign countries participation and prospect of expanding business with them, Mr Alam stressed the need to give transit facilities for neighboring countries like India, Myanmar and China. He urged the government to select a permanent venue in the port city and develop the same for holding the CITF, a privately-organised annual international trade exhibition.
Addressing the press briefing, Senior Vice President of CCCI Tarafdar Ruhul Amin, who was also present at the event, said the CCCI is holding the CITF 2022 following the pandemic.
He said, if the Chittagong Port is further developed and turned most modern one with state-of-the-art facilities, the export and import of the country will be significantly increased and more foreign currencies will be reserved.
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