Coronavirus indefinitely suspends international trade shows 

The detection of coronavirus in Bangladesh has created uncertainty with regard to whether international trade shows will be held at some point throughout the rest of the year. This could hamper the introduction of products and services to consumers, industry insiders said today.

Three Bangladeshi citizens, including two expatriates, were identified Sunday with positive symptoms of the deadly coronavirus.

Bangladesh, in association with counterparts from overseas, organises up to 40 international trade shows inside the country – mostly in the capital city of Dhaka and port city of Chattogram.

"We have to draw up plans far in advance to organise trade shows year-round; to make them effective and fruitful in terms of the publicity of products and services to the target audience," a source told The Business Standard.

"Since such a trade show involves overseas partners, we need to coordinate with our foreign partners also," he said.

However, now, exhibitors and citizens from other countries – like Indonesia and India – have expressed their unwillingness to participate in upcoming international trade fairs in Bangladesh, sources responsible for organising the show said.

As a result, international expos scheduled to be held throughout the rest of the year have been postponed, they said.   

"We may have to postpone a three-day long international textiles fair in Chattogram as participants have expressed their unwillingness to visit Bangladesh," said Saugato Majumdar Bappy, a director of PR firm Redcarpet365.

CEMS-Global suspended its scheduled press conference today; one that was due to brief reporters about several international expos focusing on automobiles, bikes and auto parts. These shows are supposed to be held between March 19 and 21 March.

The PR firm responsible for organising the briefing did not explain why it suspended the press conference.