Visitors thronged to see the variety of products displayed in the Thai Grand Fair that got underway in the capital yesterday.

The fair organised to promote Thai goods and services in Bangladesh pulled a large number of buyers and traders.

Commerce Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury while inaugurating the four-day fair urged the Thai businesspeople to invest more in Bangladesh.

Thai Ambassador in Dhaka Prithak Phrombubpha was present at the opening function.

Royal Thai Embassy in Dhaka organised the fair at 'Udhayan Thai' in Baridhara diplomatic zone in collaboration with Lactasoy Company, Novo Cargo Services, Roop Communications, Saint Louis Hospital and Thai Airways International.

The organisers arranged a buyers-sellers meet on the opening day to help them establish business contact after seeing the standard of

Thai products showcased in the exposition.

A total of 70 stalls have been opened in the fair to display consumer goods, kitchenware, stationary, handicrafts, household electrical appliances, auto spare parts, fresh fruits and vegetables, cosmetics, food and beverage, jewellery and ladies ornaments.

Several Thai companies are also taking part in the show with education, health, beauty and medical services, cargo transportation and tourism.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, the commerce minister said Bangladeshi businessmen and manufacturers could gain knowledge from the Thai products and use the experience in their own production process.

He urged the Thai businesspeople to invest in Bangladesh and take the opportunity of Bangladesh's free market access to countries like Canada, Australia and Japan.

Ambassador Phrombubpha said the aim of the exposition is to pro-

mote mainly the agricultural products, auto parts and services of Thailand.

He said the Thai government has given duty-free access to 50 Bangladeshi items to enter Thai market in order to reduce the huge trade gap between the two countries. At present, the bilateral trade is heavily tilted in favour of Thailand.

The show will remain open for visitors from 9am to 9pm everyday till Sunday.

A heart specialist from Saint Louis Hospital of Thailand is providing free medical consultation to the visitors from 9am to 5pm at the fair venue.

Local Thai restaurants are holding demonstrations on Thai cooking from 5pm to 6pm while a cultural troupe from Thailand is performing traditional Thai music every evening from 7pm to 8pm at fair place.