DITF draws lowest buyers, visitors in a decade

Most of the companies that took part in the 25th Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF) faced loss as the fair drew the lowest buyers and visitors in a decade.

The month-long fair began on January 1 in city's Agargaon and curtain falls on the fair tonight (Thursday). 

The fair leaseholder and participating companies said works of Metro Rail, and closure of the fair for three days caused the lowest number of buyers and visitors in a decade. 

On the other hand, DITF organizer Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) said adverse weather was the reason behind somewhat lower number of buyers and visitors. But the number rose in the end of fair as expected due to the fair period was extended.

EPB every year collects information about what amount of products are sold in Dhaka Trade Fair and what number of export order it received but this year it did not so because of not getting correct information in this regard.

EPB deputy director and fair member secretary told Jago News that they did not make data of sale and export order in DITF because doing the so is very difficult and sometimes there is confusing information.

Besides Bangladeshi companies, foreign ones took part in Dhaka Trade Fair 2020 organized with expenditure of around Tk 23.16 crore. 

Employees of the participating companies in the fair said this year the number of purchasers and visitors were comparatively lower than that of the previous year.

Meer Shahidul Islam, owner of Meer Brothers it gained lease of the fair, told Jago News that they are facing loss about Tk 4 crore in the fair due to lower number of visitors.

"We took fair's lease spending around Tk 7.50 crore and sold about 9 lakh tickets worth around Tk 3.60 crore till Wednesday. That meant our loss is about Tk 4 crore," he said.

Closure of fair on three holidays, when more buyers and visitors are seen in, and works of under-construction Metro Rail in the capital, caused the reduction in buyer-visitor number, Meer Shahidul added.

EPB at the concluding occasion of the last year's fair disclosed that they received Tk 200 crore export order and visitors were some 50 lakh.

One-fifth visitors compared to that of last year came to this year's fair, as per information given by fair leaseholder.

About this, fair member secretary Abdur Rouf told Jago News that there were somewhat lower buyers and visitors in the fair due to adverse weather but in the last days the fair saw many visitors.