Dhaka: Month-long Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF-2017) begins today to showcase the latest products before the local and international buyers.

‘Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to inaugurate the DITF- 2017 tomorrow. The 22nd DITF-2017 will have all kinds of facilities for the visitors,’ Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed told a press conference at the fair secretariat at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar here.

Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) and the Ministry of Commerce are jointly organising the country’s biggest trade exposition.

President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages greeting the local and overseas producers, buyers, importers and exporters for participating in the fair.

In his message, President Abdul Hamid said the fair is a strong and time-befitting step to enhance commerce and investment in the country.

‘I believe, the DITF-2017 would play a significant role in familiarizing our rich culture and heritage to international arena along with trade expansion,’ he said.

He hoped that the fair would also play role to create deep relations among the home and overseas producers, buyers and sellers and importers and exporters.

In her message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the month-long event is taking place to get Bangladesh engaged with knowledge, technology and advancement of today’s world.

‘It will facilitate local and overseas consumers to get a first-hand familiarity with various new commodities produced locally,’ she said.

‘It will also enable local entrepreneurs to have idea about the foreign products and their styles, colours and the standard, choice and demands of foreign buyers,’ she added.

The premier hoped that the fair would also help to create further opportunity in product diversification and at the same time it would generate a growing interest among local entrepreneurs to improve the quality of their products.

‘I firmly believe the DITF-2017 will generate keen interest and enthusiasm among local manufactures and overseas buyers,’ she added.

Apart from host the country, a total of 20 countries including India, Pakistan, China, Malaysia, Iran, South Korea, Thailand, US, UK, Turkey and Singapore are taking part in the show.

Entry fee has been fixed at Taka 30 for adult and Taka 20 for children. There will be 580 pavilions, mini pavilions and stalls in the event. An array of products would be displayed in the DITF-2017.

The products include machinery, carpet, cosmetics and beauty goods, electrical and electronic, jute and jute goods, leather and leather goods, footwear, sports goods, sanitary wears, toys, stationary, watch, jewellery, ceramics table, local apparel items, processed foods, first foods, furniture and handicrafts.