Business Beyond Border (BBB) is a popular term for businesses today. Bangladesh's real estate business is a booming one for the last two decades. The developers so far remained concentrated mainly in Dhaka metropolis and its adjoining areas. Only recently they started looking for clients in Chittagong and Sylhet. Now they are trying to go beyond Bangladesh's border. A Bangladesh housing fair is going to be held in New York next month. The five-day fair titled "REHAB-BIPONON Housing Fair, NY 2004" begins on August 19. "The main objective is to attract investment from Non Resident Bangladeshies (NRBs)," said Mahmudul Hassan, General Secretary of Real Estate Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB). Biponon, a marketing organisation in New York run by Bangladeshis living there, has taken the initiative. "This is the first ever single country fair on single theme", said Hassan, also Managing Director of Hassan and Associates, a leading real estate developer. A total of 29 local developers are taking part in the fair in New York to display their products and services. The participating companies are: Al Hassan Developers, Amin Mohammed Group, Assurance Development, Bangladesh Development Company, Bashati Consortium, Borak Real Estate, Brac Concord Lands Limited, Building Development and Design Ltd., Building For Future, Building Technologies & Ideas Ltd., Concord Real Estate & Building Products, Crescent Holdings, Ena Properties, Equity Property Development, Hamid Real Estate Construction, Hassan and Associates, Japan Garden City, Latif Real Estate, Living Stone, Mega Builders, N M Housing, Rangs Properties, Rupayan Housing Estate, Sheltech, Sumona Private Ltd., Suvastu Development and Tropical Homes. The negative image is a bane for attracting foreign investment. Even the Bangladeshis living abroad do not want to take the risk on investing here. "We want to regain the confidence of NRBs," the REHAB official said. Hassan said after 9/11 developments many Bangladeshis are looking for an address here. REHAB wants to give them the real advice so that they are not cheated by any unscrupulous individuals or groups.. "In fact this is not only a fair to sell apartments, but also a gathering of people who will discuss about transfer of technology and building materials," the REHAB General Secretary said. "This is the beginning, we will soon go to Dubai and other destinations in the world to bring investments from Bangladeshis to this sector," Hassan added.
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