Global Sourcing Expo ‘Timely and Strategically Important for the Future’: Bashir
Commerce, Civil Aviation and Tourism, and Textiles and Jute Adviser Sk. Bashir Uddin has said that in the rapidly changing global trade landscape, Bangladesh must diversify its products, expand supply capacity and build new relationships with international buyers to ensure sustainable export growth. Bashir made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at the inauguration of the "Global Sourcing Expo 2025 Dhaka" held today at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Centre in Purbachal.
The Adviser said the Global Sourcing Expo will open doors for meaningful dialogue, collaboration and long-term business partnerships, enabling experts, manufacturers, policymakers, investors and innovators from home and abroad to share ideas, said a Commerce Ministry press release. Bashir Uddin said Bangladesh is soon graduating from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category. "This milestone reflects the nation's progress, but it also brings new challenges. The preferential market benefits and tariff concessions that Bangladesh currently enjoys will gradually diminish."
He added that to successfully manage this transition, Bangladesh must rapidly move towards diversifying its products and export markets, enhancing competitiveness and adopting forward-looking trade policies. In this context, organizing the Global Sourcing Expo is not only timely, but also strategically important for the country's future, he noted. Special guest at the event was Dr Lutfey Siddiqi, Special Envoy for International Affairs to the Chief Adviser.
The welcome speech was delivered by Mohammad Hasan Arif, Vice Chairman of the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB). The programme was chaired by Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman. Other special guests included FBCCI Administrator and Additional Secretary (Export), Ministry of Commerce, Md Abdur Rahim Khan, and BKMEA President Mohammad Hatem.
To showcase Bangladesh's export potential in the global market, the government has been organizing the country's first-ever Global Sourcing Expo. The three-day exhibition will run from today till December 3 at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Centre, Purbachal. The event is jointly organized by the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) and the Ministry of Commerce.
Eight major export sectors of Bangladesh are being showcased at this year's expo: readymade garments, leather and leather goods, jute and jute products, agricultural products, plastics and kitchenware, home decor and furniture, pharmaceuticals and information and communication technology (ICT). More than a hundred companies from these sectors, including multinational enterprises, wholesalers and supply-chain representatives, are participating.
Buyers, investors and sourcing organizations from Afghanistan, China, Iran, Japan, Myanmar, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the UAE, the USA and various other countries are attending the expo. They will participate in B2B meetings, engage in trade negotiations and finalize purchase contracts. The expo also features 10 thematic seminars, online and offline B2B sessions, more than 150 stalls, networking events and a fashion show.
