Dhaka mayor Sadeq Hossain Khoka will inaugurate the three-day fair styled as 'COTOPEX 2004'. Advisor to Commerce Ministry Barkatullah Bulu will also attend the inauguration.

Four pavilions and 22 stalls will be set up in the show. Besides local companies, a number of firms from Thailand, Iran and Pakistan will display their products.

Kazi Wahidul Alam, managing director of Triune Group that organises the event, at a press briefing yesterday said the aim of the exhibition is to extend the export market of local products.

Alam, also chairman of COTOPEX 2004, said Bangladesh exported cosmetics and toiletries worth Tk 84.54 lakh in 2002-2003 fiscal year, which is twice the exports of 2001-2002 fiscal year.

"Demand for Bangladeshi toilet soaps is very high in India. Of the total cosmetics exports, 50.31 percent goods were exported to Singapore, a standard-conscious country, in the last fiscal year," he said, adding that the government should promote this potential sector.

Anjan Chowdhury, president of Bangladesh Cosmetic and Toiletries Association, and Kazi Mahtab Uddin Ahmed, executive member of the association and Managing Director of Mousumi Industry, were also present at the function.

Square Toiletries Limited will sponsor the fair. And the Prothom Alo and Channel-i will give media support to the show, which will remain open to all from 10am to 8pm.