The New Nation - Internet Edition

BUSINESS REPORT

The first-ever trade exposition, dubbed 'Made in Bangladesh' is going to be held in New York of the United States in the second week of August next.

The three-day exposition, which will jointly be organised by First Multipurpose Services, LLC (FMS), a company based in USA and Mattra, a Bangladeshi communication agency, will be held at Penn Pavilion Exhibition Hall, Manhattan, New York from August 15 to 17.

Hossain Jabbar, Founder-President of FMS, LLC announced this at a press conference at Dhaka Sheraton Hotel yesterday.

Anisur Rahman Mahmud, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mattra conducted the programme while Raghib Ahsan, Event Manager, FMS, gave vote of thanks.

Anwar Farooq, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Afzal Hossain and Sanaul Arefeen, Managing Partners, Mattra, Shahidul Alam Sachchu, Channel I and eminent writer Imdadul Huq Milon, among others, were present on the occasion.

Hossain Jabbar said Bangladesh is emerging as an economic giant of South Asia. The USA is the single largest importer of Bangladeshi products. Exports from Bangladesh to the USA and other countries have significantly increased for the last one-decade. The volume of export to the USA market could be doubled if the entrepreneurs and government made concerted efforts.

He also observed that Bangladesh could easily enhance its export volume through diversification of exportable items to the US markets.

"The USA is the main importing county of Bangladeshi products. The expected growth in terms of export could easily be enhanced to that country," he said.

Mentioning the existing trade between Bangladesh and the USA, he said the exposition would help sustain and foster present growth of the trade between the two countries.

He also said that explore of newer avenues for promoting Bangladeshi products in the USA markets would boost further trade relations between the two countries and help attract possible US investment to Bangladesh.

Afzal Hossain said since its inception 'Mattra' has been trying to project the Bangladeshi products to other countries. He said necessary publicity is required for creating more popularity of the products.

"Bangladesh is gradually strengthening its position in the present competitive global economic market," he mentioned.

The products and services which are going to be displayed at the fair include readymade garments (knit and woven), home textile items, information technology, ceramic (tiles and tableware), melamine and plastic products, handicrafts including bamboo and wooden products, furniture, leather and leather products, agriculture products and processed foods, jute goods (yarn and carpets), spices and pickles, tea and allied products, recycled glass items, tourism and hospitality, housing and real estate, institutions/ agencies related to testing/ certification/ quality control/ survey of exportable and business-related organisations like banks, shipping agents, insurance companies etc.

Apart from providing the standard facilities, the organisers will arrange meetings between the participants and buyers/ prospects within the fair premises.

Adequate publicity will be made through Bangladeshi satellite channels that have high viewership among Bangladeshi living in the USA. Buyers and prospects will be contacted through direct mailers and electronic media.

During the fair there will be seminars on different issues such as real estate and IT sector. Free transport services will be provided to the participants. Besides, Bangladeshi living in the USA would also perform cultural show at evening.

Application in prescribed form (available in the website and Mattra office) for participating in this trade show, to be submitted to the organisation by 15 June 2008 along with application fee of US$ 3500 for a 10'x8' stall and US $ 9000 only for a 15'x15' pavilion.

There will be five pavilions and 109 stalls in the fair. The media partner of the event is Channel I.

In the year 2006-07 Bangladesh earned US$ 12.17 billion through export, which was 15.39 per cent higher over the preceding year. The country is maintaining a satisfactory export growth of approximately 13 per cent during the last one decade. The major importing countries are USA, Germany, UK, France, Italy, Belgium and some other Asian countries.

The USA alone accounts for approximately 34 per cent of Bangladeshi export and hence the biggest trading partner of Bangladesh at present.