The 13th version of the Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF) begins today.

Organisers expect the

participating companies will get Tk50crorc spot orders from the month-long gathering for local and foreign traders.

They also expect business of Tk500crore in the DITF-2008. Last year local exporters received only Tk25crore spot orders.

DITF is a yearly programme of Bangladesh government, which mainly aims to showcase local products to foreign buyers. The Ministry of Commerce and Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) is jointly organising the fair at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in Dhaka. Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed is scheduled to inaugurate the fair.

The organisers have already allocated pavilion and stalls to the participants. This year a total of 395 organisations, including 15 from seven countries, are taking part at the fair. The foreign participants include India, Pakistan, Singapore, Thailand, USA, UK, Japan and'ftjrkey, said EPB officials at a press conference at the DITF venue yesterday.

They said the exhibition will showcase a wide range of local and foreign products including machinery, equipment and materials for agriculture and gardening, carpet, chemical and allied products, cosmetics, dairy products, electrical and electronic items, food and groceries, gift items, handicrafts, home appliances, leather, leather goods and footwear, sports gear, sanitary ware, ■ textile and garments, toys and stationery, watches and clocks,

jewellery, ceramics, melamine, car and plastic products.EPB Vice Chairman Md Shahab Ullah said all preparation for the fair has been completed. The security agencies headed by commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) will look after the security of the fair, he added.

The EPB official is very much hopeful of good response from both the local and foreign customers. He said like other years, DITF-2008 will also get a significant export orders from foreign buyers.

He said, “The amount of spot orders will be doubled toTk50crore this year."

Thailand is the partner country of the DITF-2008. The exposition will remain open to visitors everyday from 10am to 9pm on weekdays and from 10am to 10pm on holidays.

Like the previous year, the price of entry-ticket has been fixed atTk 10 for adults and Tk 5 for minors.