A three-day Indonesian trade fair and cultural festival styled as 'Indonesia Fair 2018' will kick off at Le Meridien hotel in the city tomorrow (Thursday), aiming to enhance the trade and investments between the two countries.
The Indonesian ministries of trade and tourism and the Indonesia-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry will jointly organise the first-ever trade show in Bangladesh with the support from Indonesian companies Pertamina, Angkasa Pura I, Adaro Energy, INKA and JapfaComfeed.
Ambassador of Indonesia to Bangladesh Rina P. Soemarno made the announcement at a press conference in the city on Tuesday. President of Indonesia-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce & Industry MA Khan Belal was also present.
Some 45 Indonesian exhibitors will showcase diverse consumer and industrial products, services, cultural and tourism products in the fair. A delegation of around 100 Indonesian businessmen is expected to take part in the fair.
Indonesian Ambassador Rina P. Soemarno said the trade show is aimed at increasing the visibility of Indonesia in Bangladesh as well as encouraging Indonesian entrepreneurs and companies to expand their business to Bangladesh.
"Indonesian entrepreneurs and companies are showing strong interest to enter Bangladesh market and invest here. They are also eyeing possible joining ventures in energy, logistics, transportation, infrastructure, hotel and property and other sectors. Negotiations on tariff reductions are also going on," she added.
"Indonesia is the 15th largest economy in the world. In 2017, the country registered a GDP amounting to US$1.015 trillion. Indonesia and Bangladesh enjoy a strong and complementary economic bilateral relationship that grows every year," said the ambassador.
Presently, the volume of Bangladesh-Indonesia trade is estimated at US$1.67 billion (Tk 12,000 crore), with Indonesia's export amounting to US$1.596 billion, she said.
Indonesia's major exports to Bangladesh are palm oil, coal, chemical wood pulp, yarn and artificial staple fibres while Bangladesh's major exports to Indonesia are apparel products and jute yarn. Bangladesh also imports cement clinkers, raw materials of textiles, spices, wood and many others, said the ambassador.
The fair will remain open for all from 10:00am to 9:00pm daily up to April 28.
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