Beside export, Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), organiser of the three-day event, hopes to see investment in food processing sector through interactions among local and foreign entrepreneurs participating in the exhibition.

A total of 45 companies engaged in production of agro-processed food items including one each companies from Pakistan, Bhutan and France will take part in the fair to display food items as well as latest food processing machinery and equipment.

Food and Disaster Management Minister Chowdhury Kamal Ibne Yousuf will inaugurate the fair at Dhaka Sheraton Hotel. Commerce Minister Altaf Hossain Choudhury, Advisor to Ministry of Commerce Barkat Ullah Bulu and Advisor to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Reaz Rahman will also attend the inauguration function.

The exhibitors will showcase food items including biscuits, bread, sweetmeat, cake, jam, jelly, pickle, pastry, snacks, fried lentil, nuts, chips, vinegar, ketchup, chanachur, fruit juice, potato sticks, milk products, soft drinks, mineral water and spices at the fair.

The exhibition will remain open to visitors from 10am to 8pm until Sunday.

According to EPB, Bangladesh fetched $6.31 million in 2003- 2004 from export of dried and processed foods to 40 countries in Asia, America, Africa, Europe and Australia.

EPB expects export earning from the sector would rise to $8 million in the current fiscal year.