The government will waive booth rental fees for small exporters participating in international trade fairs, seeking to remove a key financial barrier that has limited their access to overseas markets.
Commerce, Industries, Jute and Textiles Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir announced the measure on Monday, saying many small entrepreneurs are unable to participate in international exhibitions because of the high cost of attendance.
He made the announcement at a debriefing on the 10th China-South Asia Expo and the 30th China Kunming Import and Export Fair 2026 at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Center in Purbachal.
Muktadir said small entrepreneurs play an important role in Bangladesh’s export sector, but greater participation in international trade fairs is essential to raise their global visibility and expand exports.
The initiative forms part of the government’s broader effort to diversify the country’s export basket by helping smaller businesses connect with overseas buyers.
The minister also announced plans to simplify business procedures by extending the validity of trade licences to five years and introducing a fully online licensing system.
“The government is taking special initiatives to facilitate trade, particularly for small entrepreneurs,” he said.
The programme was chaired by Mohammad Hasan Arif, vice-chairman and chief executive of the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), while Md. Ataur Rahman Khan, secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Industries, Jute and Textiles, attended as the special guest.
Representatives of export-oriented industries, including Md Rashedul Karim Munna, president of the Bangladesh Jute Diversified Products Manufacturers and Exporters Association, and Md Nasir Khan, vice-president of the Footwear and Leather Goods Manufacturers and Exporters Association, shared their experiences and recommendations from the Kunming trade fair.
