Dhaka: The Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) today held its 148th meeting of the Board of Directors at the conference room of its headquarters in Karwan Bazar, Dhaka. Commerce Adviser Sk. Bashir Uddin presided over the meeting. The event saw participation from key industry figures including Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman, EPB Vice-Chairman Md Anwar Hossain, Additional Secretary (Export) Abdur Rahim Khan, President of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Mahmud Hasan Khan, and President of the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) Kamran Tanvir Rahman.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the meeting approved the trade fair calendar for the fiscal year 2025-2026 and a partial trade fair calendar for the fiscal year 2026-2027. This initiative aims to facilitate participation in international trade fairs under EPB's management, as announced in a Commerce Ministry press release. Speaking on participation in overseas fairs, Commerce Adviser Sk. Bashir Uddin emphasized the need to analyze each fair before committing to participate, ensuring that efforts are directed towards expanding markets for Bangladeshi products.
To further enhance global market access for export-oriented industries, the EPB has planned to organize a dedicated international sourcing fair. Following this proposal, the meeting approved the holding of "Sourcing Bangladesh 2025" in November. Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman underscored the significance of sourcing fairs, stating that they are crucial for gaining international recognition and building capacity for Bangladeshi products. He also highlighted the necessity for increased promotion of the sourcing fair through Bangladesh's missions abroad.
Additionally, the meeting decided to rename the Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF) as the Dhaka Trade Fair (DTF). The change aims to better align the event's objectives with its actual execution. Originally launched in 1995 to bring together international and domestic buyers and sellers, the DITF has faced challenges with direct participation from foreign companies. Many participate through local agents or representatives instead of official delegations, affecting the verification of product and service quality. This has sometimes led to substandard goods being presented under foreign brand names.