She said the South Asian leaders have given their commitments to perform their trade under the Safta agreement from January 1, 2006. The agreement was finalised in last November's South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) Summit in Dhaka.

The PM said, "Under Safta, the export and import volume will increase among the South Asian countries, where immediate export diversification is needed for us to keep up a balanced trade."

Speaking as the chief guest of the inaugural ceremony of Dhaka International Trade Fair 2005 (DITF-2005), she asked businessmen to be aware of the conspiracy and propaganda against the country. She also urged them to work hard to protect the country from those conspiracies.

Khaleda Zia formally inaugurated the DITF-2005 at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar fair ground following the inaugural ceremony held at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre.

Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) and commerce ministry organised the eleventh DITF as their annual event to help local entrepreneurs expand their business globally.

Commerce Minister Altaf Hossain Choudhury, Commerce Ministry Advisor Barkat Ullah Bulu, Commerce Secretary Faruk Ahmed Siddiqui and EPB Vice-chairman Mir Shahabuddin Mohammad were also present.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, the commerce minister said export diversification is the key to enhance export volume as well as strengthening our economy.

He said export from Bangladesh grew to $8.65 billion in the 2004-05 fiscal year which is 13.83 percent increase in comparison to the previous fiscal year.

The minister said, "As the government gave facilities like cash incentive and low interest bank loan to the exporters, I am confident about achieving the $10 billion export target set for the current fiscal year. "

The EPB Vice-chairman said the main goal of DITF-2005 is to showcase local products to the foreign buyers and to interact with foreign businessmen under one roof. He hoped at least 30 lakh people would visit the month-long fair.

Four hundred and twenty-one companies from home and abroad are displaying machinery, agriculture equipment, chemical, allied products, cosmetics, dairy products, electrical and electronic items, food and groceries, tableware, melamine, plastic goods, gift and novelty items, handicrafts, furniture, home appliances, leather and leather goods, footwear, sports goods, building materials, textile and garments products in DITF-2005.

Along with Bangladeshi companies, 22 foreign companies from USA, Singapore, Italy, South Korea, Pakistan, China, India, Iran, Thailand, Austria and Myanmar are displaying their products.

The month-long fair has 419 stalls, four special pavilions, seven premier pavilions, 37 pavilions, 12 premier mini-pavilions, 33 mini pavilion, 35 premier stalls, six restaurants and four drink kiosks.

The fair will remain open from 10:00am to 9:00pm to adults for Tk 10 entry ticket and children for Tk 5.