Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) – A three-day Indonesia’s Integrated Expo 2012 will begin in the capital Dhaka on Thursday with the aim of supporting Bangladeshis to explore more trade opportunities in Indonesia.
The event, the third of its kind, will take place at Ruposhi Bangla Hotel in the capital, the organizers said.
The trade show will boost bilateral trade and investment as local entrepreneurs can gather information about demand for Bangladeshi products in Indonesia and vice versa, Zet Mirzal Zainuddin, Indonesian ambassador in Dhaka, said while speaking at a press conference in the capital on Sunday.
Mr Zainuddin said Indonesia is predicted by International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank (WB) to be one of the largest economy in Asia, which will reach US$ 1.3 trillion by 2013. The per capita income of the country is US$ 4700 with an annual GDP growth rate of 6.7 per cent.
Commerce Minister Ghulam Mohammed Quader will inaugurate the exhibition as the chief guest at 11:00 am while in the evening foreign minister Dipu Moni will open the Indonesian Arts, Culture and Culinary festival to commemorate the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Civil Aviation and Tourism minister Faruk Khan will be present as the chief guest at the closing ceremony of the three-day event where 17 Indonesian and 13 Bangladeshi participants will display their products and services at 36 stalls. 
In 2011 the bilateral trade balance between Bangladesh and Indonesia reached US$1.4 billion, up 32 per cent from the previous year with more than 95 percent in favour of Indonesia. 
Indonesia exported goods worth $208.9 billion around the globe in 2011, which was $158.1 billion in 2010 and imported goods worth $172.1 billion in 2011 against US$ 127.4 billion in 2010.
All the Indonesian companies will showcase a variety of products, including handicrafts, furniture, batik and fashion accessories, strategic industry products, herbal cosmetics, tourism products at the fair.
The fair will also organize several cultural and art performances, and entertaining guests with Indonesian cuisine. The fair will remain open from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm for the visitors with no entry fee.
 
BBN/SSR/AD-19Mar12-8:00 am (BST)