DITF renamed to DTF to combat deception by local agents
The name of the Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF) is being changed to Dhaka Trade Fair (DTF).
The word 'International' will be dropped from the name, a decision made during the 148th board meeting of the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) on Monday. The fair has been held since 1995, and is jointly organized by the Ministry of Commerce and the EPB.
The change was announced in a press release from the Ministry of Commerce. The ministry stated that the original goal of the DITF was to allow foreign companies to directly showcase quality products and technology and familiarize themselves with the local market.
However, many foreign companies have been participating through local agents rather than as part of an embassy or government delegation. This has made it difficult to verify the quality of goods and services, and sometimes substandard or locally-made products are presented under foreign brand names, which deceives buyers and harms the fair's international image.
The board meeting, held at the EPB conference room, was chaired by Commerce Adviser Sk. Bashir Uddin. Other attendees included Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman, EPB Vice-Chairman Md. Anwar Hossain, Additional Secretary (Export) Abdur Rahim Khan, BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan, and Metro Chamber President Kamran Tanvir Rahman.
In addition to the name change, the board approved the fair calendar for the 2025-2026 fiscal year and a partial calendar for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. Sk. Bashir Uddin emphasized the need for a thorough analysis of all foreign fairs to ensure effective participation that expands the market for Bangladeshi products.
The EPB also announced a new initiative to organize a separate "International Sourcing Fair" to expand the global market for export-oriented industries. This new fair, titled "Sourcing Bangladesh 2025," was approved to be held in November.
The Commerce Secretary highlighted that organizing a sourcing fair is crucial for increasing the recognition of domestic products in the international arena and developing national capacity. He also stressed the importance of promoting the sourcing fair through Bangladeshi embassies abroad.