The 13th version of month long CITF will begin on Tuesday at the Railway Pologround with the theme, 'Trade for Global Access.'

As the Dhaka International Trade Fair is not taking place in the next few months, many foreign entrepreneurs are now eager to join the fair in Chittagong, said Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Javed, president of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), the organiser of the exposition.

"A good number of big market players and business conglomerates from Thailand, India, China, Oman, Iran and the USA have already consented to join the fair this year," the CCCI leader said while speaking at a press conference in Chittagong yesterday.

CITF-2005 Chairman Ershad Ullah said tight security arrangement with the involvement of elite force Rab, police and personnel from intelligence agencies will be made for holding the exhibition peacefully.

The fairground covering 4 lakh square feet area will have nine mega pavilions, four mini pavilions, 31 standard pavilions and 387 stalls, he said.

The product range may include computer accessories, handicrafts, consumer products, food, home appliances, garments, leather goods, tribal garments, electric cables and electronics goods, ceramic, aluminium, jute products, herbal medicine, building materials, marble and tiles, wooden and steel furniture, plastic goods, cosmetics and soft drinks, he said.

Commerce Minister Altaf Hossain Choudhury is expected to inaugurate the fair while Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan will be present as chief guest. Besides, State Minister for Communications Salahuddin Ahmed, Commerce Ministry Advisor Barkat Ullah Bulu, City Mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury and Co-chairman of Thai Business Society in Bangladesh Pipat Limpikirati will also be present as special guests.

Organisers said they will allot free stalls to Red Crescent, Organisations for Disables, Biswa Sahitya Kendra (a local organisation that promotes the habit of reading) and Sandhani (a voluntary organisation in the health sector).

CCCI Senior Vice-president SM Nurul Hoque urged all opposition parties not to enforce hartal in Chittagong during the month long fair.