China hands over Friendship Exhibition Center to Bangladesh

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Chinese construction firm ‘China State Construction Engineering Corporation Limited’ handed over the newly built China-Bangladesh Friendship Exhibition Center to Bangladesh situated in the Purbachal area.

This center has been built with technical support and financial grant from China.

The exhibition center was formally handed over to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) at a simple ceremony today at the commerce ministry conference room.

Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi spoke at the function as the chief guest with Commerce Secretary Dr Md Jafar Uddin in the chair.

Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Masud Bin Momen, Economic Relations Division (ERD) Secretary Fatima Yasmin, and Chinese Ambassador to Dhaka Li Jiming joined the programme virtually.

Speaking on the occasion, the commerce minister said that it has been possible to set up the permanent venue of Dhaka International Trade Fair at Purbachal due to the farsighted leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and support from the Chinese government.

“China has handed over the exhibition center to us after completing its construction works. This center will play an important role towards expanding further international trade,” he hoped.

The commerce minister also extended his heartfelt thanks to the Chinese government for completing the construction works of the exhibition center in time.

He hoped that there would be fairs and exhibitions of different products at the exhibition center throughout the year while the EPB would also hold fair every year.

Tipu said China has given duty free access of some 8,256 products in their market while Bangladesh is now exporting RMG iteams, jute and jute-made goods, leather goods and fish to China.

He also expressed his optimism that the duty-free access would further expand the bilateral trade of the two countries.

Terming Bangladesh as a ‘trusted friend’ of China, Chinese Ambassador Li Jiming said China is the biggest market of the world where there is a good demand for Bangladeshi products.

He opined that Bangladesh could further consolidate its position in the potential Chinese market through producing quality products and thus exporting those.

Jiming hoped that this China-Bangladesh Exhibition Center would play a supporting role to highlight Bangladeshi products in the global arena.

According to the officials, the purpose of this exhibition center is to create opportunities for regular and direct communication in an international standard common platform in Bangladesh for the local and foreign manufacturers and buyers.

Apart from holding product-based fairs and general trade fairs round the year, various trade and commerce related programmes would be arranged at the center.

The China-Bangladesh Friendship Exhibition Center has been built on some 20 acres of land at Purbachal with a cost of Taka 1,303.05 crore. Of the total cost, the Chinese grant totaled Taka 625.70 crore.

Out of the 33,000 square meter floor space of the exhibition center, the building has been constructed on some 24,370 square meters of areas. Besides, there will be 15,418 square meter exhibition hall, some 800 stalls, a two-storey parking space of 7,912 square meters where some 500 cars could be parked.

Apart from this, around 1000 cars could be parked in the open space in front of the exhibition building. Side by side, there will be one multi functional hall having 473 seats, a 50-seat conference room, six negotiation meeting rooms, a 500-seat restaurant, separate playing space for kids, prayer room, and two office rooms.

Side by side, the exhibition center will feature medical booth, dormitory and guest rooms, 139 toilets, built-in public address system, self water treatment plant, store room, CATV control room, automated central AC system, inbuilt internet or wifi, modern fire extinguishing system, separate registration hall, modern fountain, in-built flag stand and electronic entry gate.

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