Inaugurating "Agri-invest 2003 Bangladesh", a three-day exposition of agro-products and technologies, at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre, she also called for modernisation of the sector.

The prime minister laid stress on creating more employment in the agriculture sector and improving the processing of agricultural items for their further value addition for marketing and exporting.

She said the country's agricultural sector has immense potential and it could be explored by proper utilisation of the farm resources.

Organisers said 67 stalls of agro-based products from 10 countries have been set up in the first ever exposition on agro-based industries. Among those, 52 stalls have been set up by Bangladeshi entrepreneurs and government departments.

Denmark, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, Norway, India, Switzerland, Italy, Britain and host Bangladesh are participating in the fair.

Jointly organised by the Board of Investment (BoI), Ministry of Agriculture and SouthAsia Enterprise Development Facility (SEDF), the show aims at attracting local and foreign investment in the sector.

The Prime Minister in her speech urged both local and foreign entrepreneurs to invest more in agricultural sector in the context of Bangladesh's prospects and demands in agriculture and in the light of the government's liberal policy.

Finance and Planning Minister M Saifur Rahman, State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Ukil Abdus Sattar, State Minister for Agriculture Mirza Fakrul Islam Alamgir, General Manager of SEDF Anil Sinha and Executive Chairman of the BoI Mahmudur Rahman also spoke in the function.

The "Agri-invest 2003 Bangladesh" has created much enthusiasm among the people who are directly and indirectly involved in agriculture that contributes 25 per cent to country's GDP and 62 per cent of national employment.

A huge number of people, especially agricultural experts, entrepreneurs, growers and businessmen, thronged to the fair venue to witness different agricultural produces and share ideas with the experts on agriculture.

Agricultural machinery and produces are also being exhibited in the exposition.

During the agri-exposition a number of seminars on agriculture, fisheries and livestock, herbal medicine, agri-economy, prospect of agro-business, agro-processing, bio-

technology and other related topics will be held. Experts from home and abroad will attend the seminar as discussants.

Commerce Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury will attend the concluding session on December 5.