A three-day long Bangladesh International Marine & Offshore Expo (BIMOX 2026) has begun at the International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB) in the capital.

The expo focused on shipbuilding, ship recycling, ship repairs, marine engineering, offshore technology, dredging equipment, and port & logistics services, the exhibition brings together leading maritime companies from home and abroad, along with investors, technologists, and business representatives.

As the Chief Guest, Shaikh Rabiul Alam, Minister, Ministry of Shipping, Railways and Road Transport and Bridges, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh inaugurated the programme at the venue on Thursday.

Savor International Limited organized the event. Its Managing Director Md. Faizul Alam gave welcome speech there.

Michael Millar, ambassador and head of the European Union Delegation to Bangladesh, Joris van Bommel, Ambassador, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Dhaka. U Kyaw Soe Moe, Ambassador, Embassy of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Rear Admiral Md. Niyamat Elahee, Vice-Chancellor, Bangladesh Maritime University, Commodore Md. Shafiul Bari, Director General, Department of Shipping, and Shafiq Bhuiyan, Chairman GroupNautika were present at the ceremony.

In his speech, the chief guest Rabiul Alam highlighted the importance of the country’s vast maritime resources and waterways in driving economic growth.

The minister called for coordinated efforts to harness maritime potential, and informed that five of the world's leading companies have been engaged in container management at Chattogram Port as part of efforts to modernise the maritime sector.

He has called for international cooperation, modern technology and coordinated initiatives to unlock Bangladesh’s maritime potential.

The minister stressed the need to further enhance the capacity of Chattogram, Mongla and Matarbari ports, modernise maritime logistics and accelerate oil and gas exploration.

He also emphasised sustainable use of marine resources, environmental protection, skilled workforce development and the adoption of international expertise to strengthen Bangladesh’s maritime sector.

EU-Bangladesh business and investment forum in April next year

Speaking there, Michael Millar said the European Union wants to move its relationship with Bangladesh beyond development aid and one-way commerce toward investment, joint ventures and technology transfer, the EU delegation said at a Netherlands embassy-hosted exhibition.

He informed that two-way trade between the EU and Bangladesh exceeds €25 billion every year, adding that the bloc also seeks “greater balance” in trade.

Millar highlighted that the EU plans to hold an EU-Bangladesh business and investment forum in April next year, building on the momentum from the exhibition.

Joris van Bommel said the Netherlands has offered to share its maritime knowledge and technology with Bangladesh to help build smart, zero-emission shipping and green ports.

“Fourteen Dutch companies and organisations are taking part in the two-day expo under a Netherlands pavilion themed “The Maritime Future Is Now.” Their areas include shipbuilding and repair, port development, maritime infrastructure and sustainable maritime solutions,” he added.

The ambassador said the Netherlands and the EU are among Bangladesh’s biggest investors and trade partners, with the Netherlands citing the highest foreign direct investment from the bloc.

He said the partnership goes beyond trade to joint work on sustainable solutions in water management, climate-smart agriculture and the maritime sector.

He added that the Netherlands is eager to help Bangladesh position itself as a regional maritime hub.

More than 200 stalls from seven countries have been set up in the expo. The exhibition is open to all visitors from October 15 to October 17, 2026, daily from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM.