Bangladesh to host 11th SAARC Trade Fair and Tourism Mart 2012

The 11th SAARC Trade Fair and Tourism Mart 2012 will be held in Bangladesh from 30 March to 1 April at the BICC in Dhaka.

It is expected that 11th SAARC Trade Fair and Tourism Mart 2012 will be very effective and successful and would contribute to the development of new avenues for business and tourism services in the SAARC nations.

The decision for Bangladesh to host the event was made by the SAARC Secretariat in May 2010.

The main focus of this event is on providing business information services to importers and exporters for making use of trade opportunities in South Asia. Most importers and exporters in the SAARC region insufficiently utilise their market opportunities as they do not have adequate access to information on market developments, prices, exportables and other economic potentials. Another objective to organise the fair is to exchange useful information on trade and commerce and to promote the tourism potentials of the SAARC nations. 11th SAARC Trade Fair and Tourism Mart 2012 will be a unique umbrella under which business/trade and tourism potential of SAARC nations will be showcased.

11th SAARC Trade Fair and Tourism Mart 2012, Dhaka, Bangladesh will focus on target visitors from entire South and South-East Asian nations like, India, Vietnam, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, The Philippines, Cambodia and  Singapore. SAARC observer countries (USA, European Union, Iran, South Korea, Mauritius, Myanmar, Australia, Japan, China and Turkey) are also included in the visitors’ list. Most potential visitors will be the manufacturers and Suppliers to showcase their products/services and the expo will attract agents, distributors, importers, trading companies, wholesalers, retailers, associations, government officials, chambers of commerce, hotels, business representatives, restaurants, tour operators, travel agencies and, of course, general consumers  and bulk purchasers from SAARC countries.

Exhibits for this event will cover the following: potential exportable products and tourism and hospitality products and services.

The organisers have installed 300 stalls (50 stalls for tourism sector, 100 stalls for trade sector from SAARC countries other than Bangladesh, 20 stalls for SAARC observer countries and 130 stalls for Bangladesh. The number may be adjusted on demand from participating countries).

Special seminars and a rally will be held on the occasion of the trade fair and tourism mart. There will focus on trade and tourism sectors of the SAARC nations. At least six seminars will be organised during the expo days and a rally will be held on the 23 March.

 As an added attraction, a cultural program will be performed by SAARC Nations for all three days of the expo showing culture and heritage of theirs and a special souvenir will be published.  

Participation from all eight SAARC nations (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, The Maldives, Pakistan and Afghanistan) and also from all 10 SAARC Observer countries (USA, European Union, Myanmar, South Korea, Iran, Mauritius, Australia, Japan, China and Turkey).

Organisers expect around 200,000 visitors at the event and the exhibition will be open for visitors everyday from 10a.m. to 8p.m.