In a recent letter of appreciation to the event organisers, Bangladesh-British Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BBCCI), Blair wished the event a success.

Preparations are underway for the three-day show to be staged at the Barbican Center in London from September 15 to 17.

British business and media, including BBC, are extending all out support to the event.

"This is exclusively an initiative of non-resident Bangladeshis in the UK under the aegis of BBCCI," Anwar Hossain, resident director of the joint chamber in Dhaka, told the news agency on Monday.

The Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) and Bangladesh High Commission to the UK are lending support to the efforts.

The Bangladeshi community in the UK has taken the move to promote new export sectors of Bangladesh and its positive image to British and the European people, Hossain said.

It aims at showing the wide range of new products that Bangladesh is now producing, such as bicycles, pharmaceuticals and above all RMG, to the European buyers. It will also deliver the message to the British and the European businesses that Bangladesh is now a prospective place for investment.

"Impressive display of exportables in stalls, cultural events, fashion shows, food festivals and seminars will present the country's changing face," Hossain said.

He said the UK can work as the gateway to Europe for Bangladesh's business and the BBCCI is out to exploit this window to find new markets.

"The fair will facilitate networking of our exports with established and new buyers," he hoped.

Anwar said BBCCI has hired a specialised marketing firm and it is pushing vigorous marketing drive for products of the participants to European buyers.

Participants will be limited to 80 of which 60 firms are going from Bangladesh.