DHAKA: The fourth edition of the five-day ‘Made in Pakistan’ exhibition has opened in Dhaka, bringing together more than 100 Pakistani companies seeking to expand commercial ties and develop new partnerships with Bangladeshi businesses.
Held at the International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB), the exhibition will remain open until 26 September.
The exhibition aims to promote bilateral trade and investment and foster new business partnerships between entrepreneurs from Bangladesh and Pakistan.
The exhibition was inaugurated by Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Mohammad Hasan Arif.
Pakistan High Commissioner to Bangladesh Imran Haider, Pakistan Association of Exhibition Industry (PAEI) Chairman Fahad Barlas and its founding chairman, M Khursid Barlas, attended the inauguration.
In his welcome address, Fahad Barlas said more than 100 Pakistani companies were participating in the exhibition, displaying products from sectors including garments, food and accessories.
“More than 250 business delegates have come to Bangladesh for the exhibition,” he said, adding that Pakistan viewed Bangladesh as an important market for its products.
He said Bangladesh’s economy had made significant progress over the past two decades and expressed hope that the exhibition would expand further in the coming years. Fahad Barlas also invited Bangladeshi businesses to organise exhibitions in Pakistan.
M Khursid Barlas said the exhibition had grown in scope since its first edition.
“This is our fourth exhibition and our presence is growing every year. This year, 250 business delegates have come to Bangladesh,” he said.
He expressed Pakistan’s interest in hosting a ‘Made in Bangladesh’ exhibition and proposed joint exhibitions by businesses from the two countries in a third country.
Pakistan High Commissioner Imran Haider said there was considerable potential to expand bilateral trade, investment and joint ventures in sectors including textiles, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, information and communication technology, agriculture and food processing.
He said the High Commission would work closely with the EPB to diversify trade, strengthen business-to-business links and address practical barriers to trade.
EPB Vice Chairman Mohammad Hasan Arif highlighted the imbalance in bilateral trade between the two countries. “Pakistan’s exports to Bangladesh are around 10 times higher than Bangladesh’s exports to Pakistan,” he said.
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He also said Biman Bangladesh Airlines had resumed direct flights between Dhaka and Karachi following longstanding demands from businesses in both countries, adding that improved connectivity would help boost trade.
Hasan Arif invited Pakistani entrepreneurs to establish a large pavilion at the Dhaka International Trade Fair scheduled for January.
The exhibition features a wide range of Pakistani products, including readymade garments, cosmetics, sports goods, jewellery, food and beverages, leather goods and perfumes.
Participating companies are using the event to promote Pakistani products and explore long-term business partnerships with Bangladeshi entrepreneurs.
