Customs delay hampers foreign exhibitors’ business at DITF

Visiting the fairground, it was noticed that most foreign stalls have yet to be gotten ready while overall 30% of the allocated stalls remain unfurnished. The Dhaka International Trade Fair authority has allotted 580 stalls/pavilions this year. Most pavilions including Indian, Pakistan, Dubai and Parsian ones were still underconstruction. Naranda Kumar, an exhibitor of Rajasthan Works Limited of India, said: “Custom processing is not good here. We have completed furnishing our pavilion, but our products could not be released as of today because of delay in customs formalities.” “I have been attending the fair over the last couple of years and became successful in my business at DITF. However, I am hopeful that we would begin sale within this week.” The Indian exhibitor expected that he would be able to make a good sale this year either. Asked why he failed to furnish his shop before January 01, Farhad Hossain, another exhibitor, said: “Actually our target is to sell products from the coming holiday.” “We expect that visitors would turn up here from the coming days. However, I expect our work would be completed before coming Friday.” The exhibitor, Riazul Haque, said he had been participating in the fair over the last 10 years. “Generally, foreigners come here ten days after the fair kicks off. The visitors approach the shops at the end of the fair and buy the products.” Asked, Yousuf Ali, a senior official of Walton, said their sale is, however, good. “Our sale is gradually on the rise. Our target is to sell products worth Tk15 crore this year which was Tk8 crore last year.” Abul Hossain, a visitor from Tongi, said: “As most companies offer exclusive discounts at the fair, it is an opportunity for us.” The 22nd edition of the month-long Dhaka International Trade Fair has kicked off from January 01 which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in Dhaka. A total of 21 countries including Bangladesh have participated in the fair this year organised by the Ministry of Commerce.