The Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF) attracted an increased number of visitors Friday, the first weekly holiday after its inauguration in January 11.
Over one hundred thousand people visited the exhibition on the day, after a poor turnout during the last one week, said its management committee.
Stalls selling crockery, jewellery, plastic products and home textiles were popular among visitors.
The Export Promotion Bureau and the Ministry of Commerce are jointly organising the mega event at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the capital that will continue until February 10.
According to the organisers, visitors' gathering in the first six days after the inauguration was rather poor. But Friday's gathering made them hopeful over success of the fair.
The participating companies of the fair are showcasing many innovative and colourful products to attract both high-end and low-end customers.
Almost all the shop owners have announced various promotional campaigns as well as offered substantial cash discount on their products.
Bengal Plastics Ltd, a sister concern of Bengal Group, has announced promotional campaign - 'buy one - get one' - and offered gifts with its products during the fair.
The company is displaying different types of plastic-made home and outdoor appliances. It is expecting higher sales at the fair, provided by stable political situation.
"We are eyeing a significant number of visitors in our pavilion Friday. But the number of visitors in a public holiday is lower than that of other DITFs," senior executive (sales) Moinuddin Azad told the FE.
Sanwara Khanam, proprietor of Bikrampur Textiles, said they are showcasing only specially designed products in the fair to attract customers.
The company has announced up to 30 per cent cash discount on all of its products.
"We have worked hard throughout the year for an exceptional presentation to our customers in the fair, and started getting feedback of the effort," she added.
However, many visitors were seen disappointed due to high price of goods being charged at the fair.
"Being a person of middle-income group, prices of major products on display are beyond my reach," said Sukanta Bhattacharyya, a private job holder.
Some visitors also claimed that stall owners were misleading the customers in the name of discount.
"Some stall owners are charging exorbitant prices from the customers, even for low quality and substandard items," said Sanwara Huq, a visitor.
"People like us come to such exhibitions to pick the best bargain of products. But, in fact, the owners are making us to spend too much in the name of discounts," she added.
Stall owners, however, denied such claims, saying they are offering discount on the best quality products due to intense competition.
Some of them expressed their dismay, as they could not decorate their shops properly due to late handover from the authority concerned.
A total of 480 stalls, pavilions and mini pavilions have been allotted in the DITF to local and foreign companies. Last year there were 497 stalls and pavilions.
According to the fair organising committee, of the total stalls and pavilions, 27 have been allotted to companies from 12 foreign countries.
Meanwhile, around 83 stalls and pavilions are still lying vacant, as their allottees did not make final payment and take allotment of their respective shops, for reasons hitherto unknown to the organisers.
© 2024 - All Rights with The Financial Express
