Dhaka, Oct 18 (V7N) – The "Global Sourcing Expo Dhaka 2026" will be held from November 15 to 17 at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Centre (Big Wave) in Purbachal, aiming to diversify Bangladesh's export products, expand international markets and strengthen business ties between local manufacturers and global buyers.
The three-day expo is expected to feature more than 200 stalls, with 12 sectors participating, up from eight sectors at last year's inaugural event, according to a press release issued here today.
Speaking at a view-exchange meeting with leaders of business organisations, representatives of chambers and heads of various government departments at a local hotel, Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) Vice-Chairman Mohammad Hasan Arif said the expo would serve as an effective platform for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to participate in international trade fairs and showcase their products to global buyers. He said expanding the number of participating sectors would help increase product diversity and create broader opportunities for entrepreneurs from different industries.
The expo will feature seminars, business-to-business (B2B) meetings, an online matchmaking portal connecting buyers and sellers, networking opportunities and factory visits to facilitate business partnerships and attract international buyers. Fashion shows and cultural programmes will also be organised to attract foreign buyers and generate greater interest in Bangladeshi products, he added.
Arif stressed the importance of strengthening coordination with Bangladesh missions abroad, foreign diplomatic missions in Dhaka, international buyers' associations and joint chambers of commerce to ensure effective international participation. The meeting also discussed special facilities for registered international buyers, including discounted hotel rates. Special discounts for participants travelling on Biman Bangladesh Airlines were also highlighted as part of efforts to facilitate the participation of foreign delegations and buyers.
Representatives of business organisations and relevant industries emphasised the need to increase international publicity, strengthen engagement with overseas buyers and ensure that stalls and pavilions meet international standards. They also underscored the importance of announcing expo dates well in advance, selecting quality products, drawing on the expertise of international event management professionals and maintaining communication with buyers after the event to turn business contacts into actual export orders.
Increasing the participation of women entrepreneurs and SMEs also emerged as a key issue at the meeting. A representative of the Women Entrepreneurs Association of Bangladesh (WEAB) proposed expanding participation opportunities for women entrepreneurs, sponsoring booths for women-led SME enterprises and arranging specialised training to improve their skills and competitiveness.
Representatives from the plastics, frozen food, fisheries, jute, furniture and pharmaceutical sectors stressed the need to diversify export products and showcase promising industries to international buyers. They also proposed addressing compliance-related complexities, updating existing policies to reflect current business needs, reviewing booth prices and creating a more supportive environment for exporters.
Business representatives called for increased allocations for promoting Bangladeshi products in international markets and stronger engagement with global trade organisations. They particularly emphasised exploring new buyers in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. They said advance communication with foreign buyers, greater involvement of international trade organisations and effective post-expo follow-up would be essential to convert business opportunities into concrete export orders.
The meeting also discussed orderly booth management, maintaining international standards, facilitating entrepreneurs' participation and establishing the expo as an effective long-term platform for international trade. Organisers expressed hope that coordinated participation by government and private-sector institutions, business associations, exporters, international buyers and Bangladesh missions abroad would make Global Sourcing Expo Dhaka 2026 an important platform for expanding exports, diversifying products, exploring new markets and strengthening the position of Bangladeshi entrepreneurs in the global marketplace.
