From February 17-21 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), at the Dubai World Trade Centre, the involvement of 41 Bangladeshi companies in the upcoming food and hospitality fair Gulfood has become unpredictable as they are yet to get visas.
This has created apprehensions among processed food exporters that they may lose potential export opportunities.
The Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) supervised 324 square meters at the crucial global platform for the food and beverage industry.
One participant mentioned that after the last July incident, the UAE imposed a visa restriction on expatriate Bangladeshis in Dubai.
For the bureau to request the commerce ministry’s intervention, which is informed by the Bangladesh Agro-Processors Association (BAPA).The EPB procured written bonds from the participating companies, stating that all delegates would return home after the fair.
Some who work in there are informed that each paying EPB Rs 7.25 lakh. EPB provides a 30 percent subsidy on booth cost; 41 domestic companies secured booths through pre-application.
Gulfood, which is organized by the Dubai World Trade Centre, acts as a key hub for securing large-scale purchase orders from buyers across the Middle East and Africa.
Source: The Daily Star
