The 25th Dhaka International Traden Fair (DITF), this year, has failed to attract expected number of crowds as it likened to an ordinary fair, many visitors and participants said. They said, “We did not see many foreign pavilions as before.
Even the many local companies also did not participate in the fair this time as they lost interest to become partcipants.” They urged the authority concerned to organise the fair raising it to the level of an international standard event.
Asked about the sale and export order of the trade fair this year, Abdur Rauf, deputy director of Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) and also the fair member, told The Bangladesh Post that, “It is very difficult to bring up accurate information about the sale and export order of the fair.
There is often confusing information. Because of this, we did not produce data on sales and export orders of the fair.” He said, “People were found lower this time as the fair remained close 3 days for beginning countdown of 100 birth anniversary celebration of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and city election.
” In last several days, theTrade Fair witnessed a rush of visitors amid much enthusiasm and showing good responses in buying different products, he added. However, people of all age attended only 1 million this time, which was almost 4 times lower than the previous year of 5 million people.
The 25th Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF)-2020 witnessed a rush of visitors on Wednesday and Thursday ahead of the closing day. Most of the companies gave clearance offer of all kinds of products on the day after the start of the country's biggest trade fair on January 1.
Most of the clothing and cosmetic pavilions were jam-packed while the same scenario was found in furniture, food and beverage, and electronics pavilions with a huge of buyers in last day of the fair.
Sales of different items, including cosmetics, winter clothes, household appliances, jewellery, handicrafts, dairy products, food and groceries, gift items, toys, stationery and plastic products has marked a rise from last couple of days, said stall owners.
Billal Hossain, manager of a pavilion, told The Bangladesh Post they brought in different varieties of products like spices, they are famous for, side by side melamine, garment items, shoes, and leather items. He said, “We offer up to 50 percent discount on all kinds of products for clearance sales.”
The jewellery pavilions were overcrowded with female customers of all ages. Harunuzzam, a salesman of Jhumka jewellery, said they were happy over sales of their jewellery of different designs as huge customers started crowding their shop during the last week, but, we have lost this time as customers witnessed very low at most of the day.
Laila Israt Jahan, pavilion in-charge of Hatil Furniture Company, told this correspondent that they set the price for the fair with a big discount of 5-15 percent to attract their customers. She mentioned “Hatil displayed several items, including bed, double sofa, single sofa, tea-table dressing table, drawing table, wardrobe, TV trolley and suchlike.
The electronic companies, including Sony, Samsung, Walton, Vision, Minister, Jamuna and Sharp, offered cash discount up to 20 percent on TV, freeze and refrigerator products. Besides, one-year replacement guarantee, four-year spare parts warrantee, ten-year compressor guarantee, as well as five-year free home service facilities are available for these products.
Plastic products of different companies, including RFL and Akij, offered up to 30 percent cash discount. Placards containing, “Buy one get three” some fashion houses were seen alluring people on Wednesday ahead of the closing day today (Thursday). The fair venue has also offered food courts and rides for kids. Kids are attracted to toy stores and parents take them for recreation.
Afroja Rahman, who came from Mirpur area, said “We have got the chance of buying various items from the fair like new market, but it has no special or quality products.”
She said “I usually buy different types of products from the fair as vendors give big discount on latest products.” She bought many products, including cookeries, cosmetics, clothes, jewellery and toys for their children. The fair remained open daily from January 1 to February 6 from 10 am to 10 pm.
This time the ticket for the fair was 40 Taka for adult and Tk 20 for children.
A total of 490 stalls and pavilions, including 68 premium pavilions, 57 premium mini pavilions and 365 stalls with restaurants, were set up in the fair venue.
A total of 20 foreign countries, including India, Pakistan, China, South Korea, Iran, Thailand, the United States, Singapore, Bhutan, Nepal, Vietnam, the Maldives, Japan, Italy, Denmark Russia, Germany, the United Kingdom, Australia and Hong Kong, participated in the fair this year.
The major items that were put on parade at the fair venue this time include machinery, carpets, cosmetics and beauty products, electronics, jute, leather and sports goods, sanitary ware, toys, ceramics, fabrics, processed foods, furniture and handicrafts.
Apart from the business stalls, mother and child center, separate booths and security service rooms for male and female, fire service station, blood donation center, complaint center of the Consumer Rights Protection, power grid sub-station, generation station and space for car parking have been arranged inside the fair compound.