The government has allotted 20 acres of land in Purbachal to Export Promotion Bureau for building a permanent venue for Dhaka International Trade Fair, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed said yesterday.
“We have planned to raise a permanent structure for the fair and a Chinese firm has already showed interest to finance the project,” the minister told reporters after meeting with the leaders of Bangladesh Brick Manufacturing Owners Association at his secretariat.
The Chinese company wants to invest Tk273 crore in the project, he said.
Earlier, the government allotted to EPB a 15-acre land, which the authorities said was not sufficient to build the venue.
Recently, it approved 20 acres of land although the EPB was yet to be provided with land deeds.
Sources said a permanent venue for Dhaka International Trade Fair will boost EPB earning. Now EPB earns around Tk2 crore from the fair that is going to kick off from January 1.
“I saw a permanent trade fair venue and structure in Australia and in Kunming and that permanent structure helps hold a good fair.”
A couple of months ago, Chinese Yunnan Province Governor Li Jiheng showed interest to provide a piece of land in Kunming for building a permanent structure to showcase Bangladeshi products throughout the year, he cited.
Bangladesh will have unique opportunities to showcase exportable products like knit and woven garments, home textiles, handicrafts, agro-processed food, cottage products, leather and leather products, imitation jewelry and jute goods in the upcoming Kunming fair, according to business circles.
Diplomatic relation between Bangladesh and China was established in 1975.