DHAKA: A two-day Indian textile fair titled ‘Intexpo Bangladesh’ has begun at Pan Pacific Sonargaon hotel in city.

State Minister for Textiles and Jute Ministry Mirza Azam inaugurated the show as chief guest in the morning on Monday.

Addressing the function, Azam said Bangladesh has the opportunity of duty-free export of its garment products to India. But Bangladeshi businesspeople cannot enjoy the opportunity due to other non-duty barriers.

These problems should be solved, he added.

This exhibition would help improve the quality of Bangladeshi garment products, the state minister said adding more it would play an important role in the economy of the two countries.

Jointly organized by the Synthetic and Rayon Textiles Export Promotion Council (SRTEPC) and Indian high commission to Bangladesh, it is associated with India-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industries (IBCCI), Bangladesh Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI) and Bangladesh Garments manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).

Indian Deputy High Commissioner Sandeep Chakraborty, FBCCI acting president Mohammad Harun-or-Rashid, BGMEA acting president Mohammad Shahidullah Azim, IBCCI president Mohammad Ali, SRTEPC convener Sanjeeb Saran and its executive director V Anil Kumar, among others, attended the function.

Sandeep Chakraborty said Bangladesh has huge potentiality of exporting RMG to India. Businesspeople of Bangladesh and India have some differences on information.

There are some non-duty barriers, Chakraborty agreed and hoped those should be solved soon.

He further said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has termed India into an ideal place for the investors.

The PM has already said Bangladesh will get priority to India, the deputy high commissioner added.

A total of 22 manufacturing and exporting companies are participating in the exposition. Their products include suiting, shirting, equipments, embroidery fabrics, high class fashion fabrics and home textiles.

Garment accessories are also on display at the event, which will remain open from 10:00am to 7:00pm till Tuesday.

The organizers will also arrange business meetings among the interested businesspeople during the exposition.

BDST: 1410 HRS, SEP 29, 2014