MSME Festival on Riverine Economy

Sylhet, Bangladesh

About the event

Major parts of Bangladesh lies in the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna river basins (GBM basin). It is Asia’s largest and the world’s most populated river basin.  The rivers facilitated economic growth in the region through the expansion of trade and commerce.  However, with the expansion of road and rail networks, the riverine communities lost their importance.

This SME festival is an effort to introduce SMEs of India and Bangladesh to develop business ties/partnership in the areas of trade and commerce with an objective to facilitate growth in local communities who are the stewards of our common rivers, wetlands, and forests.

Who can participate?

Business and NGOs working in 

Entertainment tourism – like fun parks, heritage sites, eco parks, etc.

Sports tourism – like boat racing, kite flying, etc.

Health and education tourism – like eco parks, walking trails, hospital services, Health check-ups, education tours, academic exchanges, etc.

Religious tourism – like tourism to religious sites, religious festivals. etc.

Eco-tourism – like Homestay, Tent house, Trailer house. etc.

River Transportation and Trade.

How to apply

• Indian Businesses: The Asian Confluence, Shillong, Meghalaya, https://asianconfluence.org
• Bangladeshi Businesses: The Asian Center for Development, Sylhet http://acdonline.org

Travel and Visa

(for Indian participants)

Participants will be picked up by the Asian Confluence from Shillong and will travel to Dawki Land Border Crossing between Indian and Bangladesh and after this point, the Asian Center for Development will pick up the participants.

Indian participants can secure an entry visa to Bangladesh from the Deputy High Commissioner Office in Guwahati, Assam.

Bangladeshi participants will be picked up by the ICSB, from Sylhet.

PROGRAM

 Day 1 – Arrival and Inauguration

1400 – Arrival at the Dawki Border
1500 – Depart from Tamabil to Sylhet
1700 – Arrive at the Hotel
1800 – Meet the Press and welcome dinner

Day 2 – Business presentation and social event

1000 – Inauguration
1100 – Tea
1130 – Session 1 – Discussion on Trade Link between Bangladesh and NE India
1300 – Lunch
1400 – Session 2 – Networking and Display
1700 – Session 3 – Discussion on Trade Potential for Bangladesh and NE India

Day 3 – Tour program and departure

0900-1200 – Tour of the city

FEE

USD 150 (international participants) [discount for early birds – 100 USD before 15 September 2019)
BDT 12,000 (Bangladeshi participants) [discount for early birds – 8000 BDT before 15 September 2019]
[Fee covers hotel, breakfast, lunch and dinner]