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The government has decided to organise the Global Sourcing Expo twice a year from 2026, seeking to attract more international buyers and accelerate diversification of Bangladesh’s export basket, officials at the Ministry of Commerce said.

The decision follows strong feedback from exhibitors, global buyers and sourcing representatives after the maiden Global Sourcing Expo, held on December 1–3, 2025, at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Centre in Purbachal.

The inaugural event showcased products from eight key export sectors—apparel, textiles, leather goods, ICT, agro-processing, pharmaceuticals, jute and furniture—creating direct links between Bangladeshi exporters and overseas buyers.

Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Mohammad Hasan Arif said the first expo exceeded expectations and provided valuable lessons on hosting international-standard trade fairs.

He said the expo featured structured B2B matchmaking, sector-focused seminars and networking platforms, designed to expand exports beyond the ready-made garment sector.

The government now plans to hold the expo twice annually—tentatively in March–April and October–November—while aligning dates with major sourcing fairs in Asia to avoid overlaps.

“We want to make the Global Sourcing Expo a permanent fixture on the global expo calendar,” Mr Arif said, adding that the goal is to encourage buyers to regularly visit Bangladesh for sourcing and deepen long-term trade relationships.

He said the model could evolve along the lines of China’s Canton Fair, which holds spring and autumn editions with multiple phases dedicated to different product groups.

To strengthen export promotion, EPB also plans to make greater use of Bangladesh’s Commercial Wings at overseas missions, while pushing for deeper institutional reform.

Mr Arif proposed the creation of a dedicated trade promotion agency to work alongside the EPB, citing limitations in the current system where commercial counsellors rotate every four years, affecting continuity.

“It is time to establish a standalone agency focused solely on trade promotion, similar to Japan’s JETRO, Korea’s KOTRA or Malaysia’s MATRADE,” he said.

He added that a permanent professional setup would ensure experience, consistency and sharper export-focused strategies.

The government is also encouraging stronger private sector participation and has introduced supportive measures for SMEs, non-bonded exporters and partial exporters, including easing raw material imports through bank guarantees.

The Global Sourcing Expo 2025 hosted 125 companies across 165 stalls. More than 100 international buyers from 14 countries attended, conducted factory visits, participated in six sectoral seminars and held 238 B2B meetings over three days—results that officials say justified scaling up the initiative.