Friday, March 29, 2024

Dull business frustrates foreign participants at DITF

The foreign participants of the month-long Dhaka International Trade Fair, the country’s largest and most vibrant showcasing event, experienced a ‘very dull’ business due to the ongoing political instability compelling them to rethink about their future plan.
A number of foreign participants at the fair venue shared their experiences with the news agency with grave frustrations though some of the local participants were upbeat about their business.
‘To me, it’s totally frustrating… I’ve got very poor feedback so far from the fair,’ Akbar Javan, a participant from Iran, said.
Javan said he had also come to Bangladesh last year to explore business opportunities and found positive signals to be there. ‘So, I participated in the fair for the first time, but hartal and blockade have apparently ruined my business here. Even life isn’t safe outside the fair venue. I see busses being burnt,’ he said.
Responding to a question, Javan of the Iranian Pavilion said he might not come next year unless political situation improves.
Pakistani participant Rahim Baksh, representing Kashmir Handicrafts Company, also came up with similar sentiment and said they were upset over the poor respond from the visitors. ‘You see, I left my stall, and is chatting with my friends here as there’s no customer,’ said a frustrated Rahim.
Asked whether the extension of the fair time will help them get business, he said it would not help them that much. ‘A five-day extension would be fair enough, but customers know about the extension and are waiting for last-minute deals.’
Responding to another question, the Pakistani participant said their per-day sales volume was only Tk 10,000 to Tk 20,000. ‘Customers bargain to get a product of Tk 3000 at Tk 500 on Tk 1000.’
An Indian participant said they were not satisfied with the business feedback receiving from the fair so far. ‘We understand, this dull business is due to political situation,’ the young salesman from Kashmir – Kashmir Heritage Company Limited – said wishing not to be quoted.
He said they had been, mainly his brother, taking part in the DITF for the last 15 years and wished to come again next year.
Responding to a question, he said they were doing comparatively better business if they compare with other stalls as they have quality products. ‘Our daily transaction varies from Tk 20-50 thousand.’
However, a local participant representing Walton expressed satisfaction as they had got a chance to meet a diverse group of customers at the fair apart from fetching some foreign orders from Spain, Europe and Australia.
‘We’re not saying that we’re doing better than that of previous year. Our satisfaction is we have been able to bring all products under the same roof for our customers which is not possible in a single showroom,’ Walton Pavilion manager M Akramuzzaman Apu said.
He said they were not concentrating on sales volume rather trying to give information about their products so that the customers could come and buy at their convenient time. ‘We’re happy to interact with the customers directly.’
The Export Promotion Bureau, the organiser of the fair under the commerce ministry, expressed satisfaction over the visitors’ turnout at the fair.
‘We’re happy. The feedback is good. Huge people are visiting the fair,’ EPB vice-chairman Shubhashish Bose said.
The EPB and the commerce ministry usually come with data based on
Maruboshi Europe BV in Bangladesh shared their experience with the participants about the overall business atmosphere in Bangladesh.
Rene Beerepoot of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency made a presentation on Dutch assistance for firms to expand their business in Bangladesh.
He said there is a Dutch fund of 750 million Euro for Dutch businesses willing to expand their business in the world’s 66 countries including Bangladesh. Dutch SMEs, if approved, could receive low interest loan for up to 10 to 15 million Euro for expansion of business in Bangladesh, he added.
While sharing experience, Peter Van Bergen said he found the commitment of the people of Bangladesh as highly praiseworthy and also he found the level of spoken English very satisfactory.
He said he found working in Bangladesh ‘easier’ compared to other countries.
Vicenta Ariza said he found ‘commitment’ and ‘enthusiasm’ of the people of Bangladesh unparallel. Expressing his plan to stay in Bangladesh at least next 10-15 years, he said despite ‘strike’ or ‘hartal’ his shippers in Bangladesh never failed to deliver.

-With New Age input

Related News

Shwapno opens new outlet in Pabna

Business Desk : dhakamirror.com Popular retail chain shop “Shwapno” has opened a new outlet in Pabna’s Sujanagar at Molla Super Market. The inauguration took place at 5:30pm on 30 December, reads a press release. Present at the event were Ahmed Firoz Kabir, Member of Parliament for Pabna-2 (Sujanagar, Aminpur), Chairman Shahinujjaman Shahin of Sujanagar Upazila, ... Read more

Shwapno launches new outlet at Bashundhara

Business Desk : dhakamirror.com Shwapno, the largest retail chain in Bangladesh, launched an outlet in the Bashundhara area on Thursday offering a month-long discount with a home delivery facility. On behalf of Bashundhara Group, media advisor Mohammad Abu Tayeb inaugurated the outlet as guest of honour at the Rupayan shopping centre in the residential area, ... Read more

With ‘Face ID’ and ‘Fingerprint’ login bKash app is now more secure, user-friendly

Business Desk : dhakamirror.com bKash app introduces biometric ‘Face ID’ and ‘Fingerprint’ login features to make users’ daily transactions easier and safer. Alongside, exciting new features – ‘Group Send Money’, ‘Request Money’, ‘Savings Marketplace’ and selecting ‘Default Card’ to use the ‘Add money’ service from VISA card to bKash – are also included in the ... Read more

Grameenphone wins ‘Bangladesh Sustainability Excellence Awards 2023’ in Financial Inclusion

Business Desk : dhakamirror.com It was an evening to rejoice and remember for Grameenphone at the Bangladesh Sustainability Excellence Awards 2023, as the organization’s sincere efforts with flagship initiatives GP Accelerator and GP Academy received due recognition. Renowned media house The Daily Star, along with CSR Window, honored the winners at the Bangladesh Sustainability Excellence ... Read more

Banglalink wins the best sustainability award

Business Desk : dhakamirror.com Banglalink has won the ‘Best Sustainability Excellence Initiative’ award in the ‘Disaster Response’ category at the ‘Bangladesh Sustainability Excellence Awards 2023,’ jointly presented by The Daily Star and CSR Window Bangladesh. The award is in recognition of Banglalink’s contribution to societal welfare through the innovative integration of an Early Warning System ... Read more

StanChart wins Mastercard Excellence Awards

Business Desk : dhakamirror.com Standard Chartered Bangladesh has clinched awards in three categories at the “Mastercard Excellence Awards 2023”. The categories are “Excellence in Mastercard Contactless (Issuing)”, “Excellence in Mastercard Credit Business (International)”, and “Excellence in Mastercard Business (Innovation)”. Naser Ezaz Bijoy, chief executive officer of the multinational bank, received an award from Atiur Rahman, ... Read more

Nagad wins Mastercard Excellence Award 2023

Business Desk : dhakamirror.com Nagad, a popular mobile financial service provider in Bangladesh, has clinched “Mastercard Excellence Award” 2023 for its contribution to credit card bill payments. The mobile money carrier has been honoured with this prestigious award as the “Master Evolution”, reads a press release. On behalf of his company, Nagad’s Executive Director Maruful ... Read more

Prime Bank clinches Mastercard Excellence Awards 2023

Business Desk : dhakamirror.com Prime Bank PLC, a leading private commercial bank of the country, has won Mastercard Excellence Awards 2023 for Debit Business (Domestic) category. Nazeem A Choudhury, deputy managing director of the bank, and Masudul Haque Bhuiyan, head of Cards & Alternative Delivery Channel, received the award from Dr Atiur Rahman, former governor ... Read more

Zakia Rouf Chowdhury elected as vice chairman of Bank Asia

Business Desk : dhakamirror.com Zakia Rouf Chowdhury has been elected as Vice Chairman of Bank Asia Limited recently at the 508th meeting of the Board of Directors of the bank. She has an illustrious business career of more than 35 years in the private sector of Bangladesh. Since inception, she has been holding leadership positions ... Read more

Yamaha celebrates 7 years with ACI Motors

Business Desk : dhakamirror.com ACI Marts is the sole distributor and technical collaboration partner of Yamaha motorcycles in Bangladesh. ACI Motors started its journey in 2007 as a subsidiary of renowned company ACI Limited. In 2016, Yamaha started a new journey in Bangladesh with ACI Motors. At present, more than 116 Yamaha 3S (Sales, Service ... Read more

Walton boosts TV exports to Denmark, Ireland

Business Desk : dhakamirror.com Bangladeshi global electronics brand Walton has boosted up its exports of television to Denmark, Ireland and other European countries as the demand of Walton television goes high in those countries in recent times, according to a press release. Walton Global Business Unit’s Vice-President Syed Al Imran said that Walton has been ... Read more

Mutual Trust Bank launches privilege centres in Dhaka

Business Desk : dhakamirror.com Mutual Trust Bank Ltd recently launched its two revamped privilege centres in Dhanmondi and Uttara celebrating “MTB Retail Fest 2023”. Syed Mahbubur Rahman, managing director and CEO of the bank, inaugurated the centres as the chief guest, said a press release. Privilege Banking customers enjoy a wide range of exclusive benefits, ... Read more

Prime Bank Investment launches PrimeInvest

Business Desk : dhakamirror.com Prime Bank Investment Ltd (PBIL), a subsidiary of Prime Bank, launched PrimeInvest, a comprehensive discretionary product suite that aims to foster access to investment for individuals and institutional investors. CQK Mustaq Ahmed, chairman of PBIL, inaugurated the product at its head office in Banani in the capital, said a press release. ... Read more

Midland Bank strikes deal with Bangladesh Bank

Business Desk : dhakamirror.com Midland Bank Ltd recently signed a participation agreement with the Financial Sector Support and Strategic Planning Department (FSSSPD) of the Bangladesh Bank for availing refinance facility in US dollars. Liza Fahmida, director of the BB department, and Md Ahsan-uz Zaman, managing director of Midland Bank, inked the deal at the BB ... Read more

National Bank signs deal with Bangladesh Bank

Business Desk : dhakamirror.com National Bank Ltd has signed an agreement on “Financial Inclusion Credit Guarantee Scheme” with Bangladesh Bank, aiming to boost financing to cottage, micro, small and medium enterprises (CMSME). Manoj Kumar Howlader, director of the credit guarantee department of the central bank, and Md Mehmood Husain, managing director and CEO of National ... Read more

foodpanda and Toffee: Doubling Up on Benefits for Customers

Business Desk : dhakamirror.com foodpanda Bangladesh partnered with Toffee of Banglalink Digital Communications Ltd, a digital streaming entertainment app, to enhance the experience of Toffee subscribers by offering them exclusive foodpanda discount vouchers. An agreement has been signed between Toffee and foodpanda on this partnership on Thursday, reads a press release. Through this partnership, any ... Read more

US-Bangla gets recognition of IATA

Business Desk : dhakamirror.com US-Bangla Airlines, one of the largest airlines in Bangladesh, has become the first domestic private airline to be recognised as an International Air Transport Association (IATA) airline. By 2023, 18 airlines in the world have achieved accreditation as IATA Airlines, among which US-Bangla is one, reads a press release. Although several ... Read more

Emirates crowned as 2024 APEX World Class Airline

Business Desk : dhakamirror.com Having mastered the guest experience and providing exceptional customer service, Emirates was recently named a 2024 APEX World Class Airline winner at the 2024 APEX/IFSA Awards, held in Long Beach, California. Emirates is one of just eight airlines globally to achieve this accolade, reads a press release. Emirates also received a ... Read more

LAYS launches campaign with Shakib Al Hasan, Soumya Sarkar and Taskin Ahmed Tazim

Business Desk : dhakamirror.com Lay’s, one of the world’s most loved potato chip brands under the PepsiCo umbrella, has launched an engaging campaign featuring Bangladesh cricket stars Shakib Al Hasan, Taskin Ahmed and Soumya Sarkar as its brand ambassadors. Together, this dynamic trio will play essential roles in the upcoming Lay’s campaigns, endorsing the brand ... Read more

1,000 can win bKash World Cup Quiz everyday

Business Desk : dhakamirror.com A thousand winners can get Tk50 each everyday by participating in the bKash World Cup quiz. By answering 3 simple cricket related questions in the shortest possible time and making a transaction through bKash app one can win the prize. The quiz competition will continue till October 25, reads a press ... Read more