DHAKA, Oct 28, 2026 (BSS) – The Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) will organise the second Global Sourcing Expo from November 15 to 17 at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Center (BCFEC) in Purbachal of the city, aiming to diversify the country’s export basket, attract international buyers and strengthen Bangladesh’s position in global value chains.

EPB Vice Chairman and Chief Executive (Additional Secretary) Mohammad Hasan Arif announced the programme at a press briefing at Sheraton Dhaka today.

Organised by the EPB in cooperation with the Ministry of Commerce, the three-day event will bring together manufacturers, exporters, international buyers and trade representatives to showcase Bangladesh’s manufacturing capabilities across a wider range of products and services.

The expo will feature more than 200 stalls representing 12 export-oriented sectors, up from eight sectors at the inaugural edition last year, reflecting the government’s emphasis on expanding exports beyond the readymade garment (RMG) industry.

Hasan Arif said the event would provide a dedicated business-to-business (B2B) platform for Bangladeshi manufacturers to establish direct contacts with foreign buyers, explore new markets and develop long-term commercial partnerships.

He expressed optimism about the country’s export prospects, despite the challenges arising from global economic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions and energy security concerns.

Bangladesh maintained export earnings of around $48 billion in fiscal year 2024-25 despite the challenging international environment, he said, highlighting the resilience of the country’s exporters and entrepreneurs.

The expo is expected to help manufacturers identify new business opportunities, showcase value-added products and strengthen their competitiveness in international markets.

Twelve sectors to be showcased

The second edition will cover 12 major export-oriented sectors: apparel and textiles; leather and leather products; handicrafts and jute products; plastic products and kitchenware; furniture & home decor; pharmaceuticals; agriculture and agro-processed products; ICT sector; paper and packaging; automobiles; light engineering; and ceramics and tableware.

The expanded coverage is intended to highlight the diversity of Bangladesh’s industrial base and encourage international buyers to source products beyond traditional export categories.

The inaugural edition featured 164 stalls representing 125 institutions. Building on that experience, the EPB expects participation to exceed 200 stalls this year.

Unlike the Dhaka International Trade Fair, which caters to a broader audience, the Global Sourcing Expo is designed primarily as a B2B event.

Its central objective is to connect domestic producers directly with international importers, sourcing companies and other business partners.

The platform will allow participating businesses to present their products, discuss specifications and pricing, explore supply arrangements and identify opportunities for cooperation with overseas buyers.

Back-to-back expos to attract more foreign buyers

The Global Sourcing Expo will be followed by the Bangladesh Apparel and Textile Exposition (BATEXPO) on November 18-19 in Dhaka.

According to Hasan Arif, holding the two international exhibitions consecutively will create opportunities to attract more foreign buyers by enabling them to visit multiple export sectors during a single trip.

The arrangement is expected to increase buyer participation, facilitate business networking and improve the overall effectiveness of promotional activities for Bangladesh’s export industries.

International buyers attending the Global Sourcing Expo will have an opportunity to explore a broad range of manufacturing sectors before engaging with the country’s apparel and textile industry at BATEXPO.

The combined schedule is also expected to make business visits to Bangladesh more convenient for overseas sourcing companies and trade representatives.

Incentives offered to international buyers

To encourage foreign participation, the EPB has taken initiatives to provide hospitality and travel-related incentives to registered international buyers.

Under the arrangements outlined at the briefing, registered foreign delegates may receive hotel rate concessions of up to 50 percent at participating five-star hotels in Dhaka.

Discounts of 10 to 15 percent on base airfares have also been arranged with the national flag carrier and private Bangladeshi airlines, according to the briefing.

The EPB is also developing digital B2B matchmaking facilities through an online portal, enabling international buyers to identify exhibitors and schedule business meetings before arriving in Bangladesh.

The advance meeting arrangements are expected to help buyers make more effective use of their time at the exhibition and enable participating companies to identify prospective customers more efficiently.

In addition, factory visits will be arranged for interested buyers to observe production facilities and assess manufacturing capabilities in sectors including pharmaceuticals and apparel.

Such visits will provide potential importers with opportunities to evaluate production processes, product quality and suppliers’ capacity to meet their sourcing requirements.

Seminars to focus on trade agreements and LDC graduation

Alongside product displays and business meetings, the three-day exhibition will feature thematic seminars on emerging trade policy issues affecting Bangladesh’s export competitiveness.

The discussions will cover preparations for Bangladesh’s graduation from the least developed country (LDC) category, free trade agreement (FTA) preparations with the European Union, economic partnership agreements (EPAs), including the proposed arrangement with South Korea, the United Kingdom’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS), and international compliance standards.

The sessions are expected to provide a platform for discussions on market access, trade preferences, regulatory requirements and the adjustments needed to sustain export growth as Bangladesh’s international trade arrangements evolve.

Greater awareness of destination-market requirements and international compliance standards will be important for exporters seeking to enter new markets and expand their presence in existing ones.

The seminars will also offer opportunities for policymakers, exporters and trade representatives to exchange views on strengthening Bangladesh’s readiness for changing global trade conditions.

International participation expected from several regions

The EPB has contacted foreign diplomatic missions in Dhaka, international trade promotion organisations, joint chambers of commerce and buyers’ forums to encourage participation in the exhibition.

According to the briefing, initial positive responses and confirmations have been received from prospective delegations representing Portugal, France, Spain and the United Kingdom in Europe; China, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Afghanistan in Asia and the Middle East; and Argentina and Brazil in the Americas.

Participation from these markets would provide Bangladeshi exporters with opportunities to explore new commercial relationships, understand buyers’ requirements and identify potential destinations for export diversification.

The involvement of international trade organisations and business representatives is also expected to facilitate networking between domestic manufacturers and overseas sourcing companies.

Hasan Arif called on domestic and international media outlets to provide extensive coverage of the event to highlight Bangladesh’s manufacturing strengths and growing export potential.

The expo comes at a time when Bangladesh is seeking to broaden its export base, increase the contribution of non-RMG sectors and improve its ability to compete in international markets amid continuing global economic and geopolitical uncertainties.

By bringing a wider range of industries together on a dedicated sourcing platform, the EPB aims to strengthen business-to-business engagement and create new opportunities for export growth.

EPB Director General-1Mohammad Shafawat Ullah also spoke on the occasion while Director (Deputy Secretary)-Fair and Display Division Md. Wares Hossain moderated the session.