Indo-Bangla trade fair to begin today

The fourth Indo-Bangla Trade Fair-2017 is going to be held here on Thursday, with an aim to promote bilateral trade between Bangladesh and India, media reports said.

Organised by the India-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IBCCI), the event will be inaugurated by Bangladesh Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed.

More than 3O companies related to automobile, processed food, banking, insurance, consumer goods, power, paints, electronics, textiles, cement and lubricants manufacturing sector will exhibit their products and services in six pavilions and 3O stalls at the Pan Pacific Sonargoan Hotel, bdnews24.com reported.

The fair will become "a landmark event" for the bilateral business relation between the neighbours, IBCCI CEO Jahangir Bin Alam said at a press briefing on Tuesday.

Bangladesh and India two-way trade was $6.14 billion in 2015-16, which was heavily tilted towards India. In the last two years, however, Bangladesh's exports to India have seen a huge increase after India allowed duty-fee market access.

In 2015-16, Bangladesh's exports to India surged 30.8 per cent to $689.62 million and Indian exports declined by 6.3 per cent. The fair will remain open from 1O a.m. to 7 p.m. every day. There is no entry fee.