The South Asia Trade Fair 2025 opens its doors in Dhaka today, drawing together businesses from across the region for a four-day showcase of trade and commerce.
This year’s edition will feature an extensive display of products from South Asian countries, covering categories as diverse as readymade garments, textiles, gems and jewellery, cosmetics, footwear and leather items, home and kitchen appliances, processed food, and electronics. Organisers said the wide range is meant to highlight both the industrial strengths and the cultural traditions of the region.
Over a hundred companies are expected to take part, representing a strong presence of entrepreneurs and firms from multiple SAARC member nations.
Their participation is aimed at deepening economic ties and opening new trade opportunities among neighbouring countries.
The fair is being hosted under the initiative of the SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI).
The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), the Ministry of Commerce, and the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) are providing support to make the event successful.
An inaugural ceremony marked the start of the fair and Commerce Adviser Sk. Bashir Uddin formally opened the exhibition at the International Convention City, Bashundhara.
The event is being positioned as one of the year’s most important trade gatherings in the capital.
Details of the programme were shared earlier this week at a press conference organised at the FBCCI headquarters in Dhaka’s Motijheel.
Speaking at the briefing, Zulfiqar Ali Bhatt, secretary general of the SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry, explained the scope of the upcoming fair and outlined its objectives.
According to Bhatt, the event will include business-to-business matchmaking sessions and dedicated networking opportunities designed to foster trust between entrepreneurs of SAARC nations.
He added that the platform would also enable the exchange of ideas and experiences in business practices, paving the way for a stronger foundation of regional cooperation.
“This will play a vital role in promoting regional trade,” Bhatt remarked, underlining the importance of strengthening intra-regional links.
He noted, however, that despite significant potential, South Asian economies have not yet managed to expand their trade with each other to the levels seen in other parts of the world.
The fair, he stressed, can serve as a step toward correcting this imbalance.
The exhibition will bring together companies from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan, among others.
With more than a hundred firms participating, organisers are confident the event will serve as an effective platform for businesses looking to establish or expand their footprint in South Asia’s growing markets.
Md. Alamgir, secretary general of FBCCI, also spoke at the press conference, focusing on the broader vision of the Saarc Chamber.
He emphasised that the institution was created to boost the region’s trade capacity and to promote collaboration across a variety of sectors.
Through the fair, Alamgir said, regional potential in industries such as textiles, pharmaceuticals, processed food and agriculture, and electronics will come to the forefront.
At the same time, the exhibition will not only highlight economic strengths but also showcase the rich traditions and cultural identities of the SAARC member countries, creating a more holistic view of South Asia’s shared possibilities.
The stakeholders hope the four-day event will set the stage for stronger commercial ties, a more connected region, and a renewed commitment to expanding trade among neighbouring economies.
