Four-day South Asia Trade Fair kicks off

The four-day South Asia Trade Fair- 2025 kicked off on Thursday in the capital.

Over 100 business entities/firms from SAARC member countries are participating in the event.

The event is being organised jointly by the SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) and the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) in cooperation with the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) which is under the ministry of commerce.

Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman as the chief guest inaugurated the fair at the International Convention City, Bashundhara in the capital.

He said that the ongoing fair would be an important platform for South Asian countries to share their experiences and technical knowledge.

He hoped that the fair would help strengthen regional trade and investment among the South Asian countries.

He called upon the traders and entrepreneurs of SAARC countries to help build a strong economic alliance for mutual benefits of SAARC member countries.

Vice - Chairman of EPB Hasan Arif called upon the SAARC member countries to arrange such a fair in Dubai apart from those in the region.

The stalls at the fair are showcasing a wide range of products including ready-made garments and textiles, gems and jewelry, cosmetics, leather goods, home appliances and kitchenware, processed food, and electronics.

The fair includes B2B matchmaking sessions, business networking sessions and other programmes that will help build trust among entrepreneurs from SAARC countries and create opportunities for knowledge-sharing in business and trade.

This fair will enhance connectivity among the countries, which is very crucial.

Companies from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan are participating in this year's fair.

South Asian countries are still lagging behind in terms of regional trade although there is considerable potential for regional trade expansion.

The fair is open from 11:00 am to 10:00 pm and will continue until September 21 (Sunday).

President of SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry Md Jashim Uddin and Director (Economy, Trade and Finance) SAARC Secretariat Bhavesh R Trivedi were present among others.

talhabinhabib@yahoo.com