28th India International Trade Fair gets underway

The 28th edition of India International Trade Fair (IITF) 2008 began on Friday (November 14) with grand participation of around 7,000 traders across the world at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. Vice President of India M. Hamid Ansari inaugurated the fair.

Delivering his inaugural speech, Ansari said, “It gives me great pleasure to inaugurate the 28th India International Trade Fair. As country’s premier platform, the IITF brings together a wide array of Indian business and industry, foreign business delegations and large numbers of the general public.”

“India is a safe, secure and profitable trade and investment destination …and the fair serves to showcase our industrial progress and project the country as a significant global trade destination with a high potential market of a billion consumers,” added the Vice President.

He believed that IITF would put a great impact over the foreign business delegates in terms of India’s strength of business and they would go back with the impression of India’s importance in terms of business and trade, as now India has become an important hub for high technology, research, manufacturing and services.

Motivating to this sort of international trade fair, he said, “I am confident that trade fair would continue to play its proactive role in catalysing trade, investment and technology transfer. The Fair serves to showcase our industrial progress and project the country as a significant global trade destination with a high potential market of a billion consumers.”

Appreciating the efforts of Indian Trade Promotional Organisation, which is the organiser of this trade fair he said, “The Fair has for over two decades provided a single venue outlet for showcasing the potential and achievements of the States and Union Territories in various fields. Besides business and industry, traditional crafts have attracted attention through the Fair.”

In view of global crisis he said, “The Trade Fair is being held at a time when the world is going through an unprecedented, 'once-in-a-generation', crisis attributed by many experts to the combined result of globalisation, credit expansion and deregulation resulting in the creation of a shadow banking system. Governments across the world are attempting to coordinate steps to contain it.”

Quoting Prime Minister’s statement the Vice-President said: “Manmohan Singh has talked on the need for a global monitoring authority to promote global supervision and cooperation, and he has also urged the developed world not to ignore the interest of developing countries.” Moreover, the crisis has not left India untouched and poses new challenges. Hence, it adds a sense of urgency to greater regional cooperation and trade.

To address the important issue of Women’s empowerment, as one of the theme of this edition of fair, Ansari said, “Women constitute half the population and must be equal partners in all aspects of national activity. While the glass ceilings that impede the rise of women to top management positions are slowly disappearing, one does not find women taking to entrepreneurship in a significant manner.”

In the 28th edition of IITF, the prime focus is on Kerala – the Focus State – while Orissa is the “Partner State” in Indian trade and investment. Similarly, among the overseas associates, the key focus is on Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) while Pakistan is the “Partner Country”.

The 14 day long Asia’s largest International Trade Fair will conclude on November 27, 2008 with special ceremony programme announced just before a day.

All states and Union Territories of India (UTIs) will participate in the world’s one of the largest trade shows approved by the Union Foires de Internacionale de-Paris (UFI) while the overseas participants include Iran, Afghanistan, Argentina, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bhutan, Brazil, China, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Holland, Indonesia, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Montenegro, Myanmar, Philippines, Nepal, Pakistan, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Spain, Sudan, Syria, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago, Thailand, Turkey, UAE, United Kingdom, US, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.

The theme of this edition is focused on technology mart, realty and good living that cover a wide range of products and services including automobiles, electronics, pharmaceutical, jute, rubber, handicraft, jewellery and consumer goods. Besides, merchandise like processed foods, cosmetics, healthcare and consumer electronics, among others, will also be the centre of attraction.

The tickets for this grand trade fair can be purchased from the windows of Pragati Maidan while the organisers have also arranged discounted tickets at Metro stations, Mother Dairy and Safal outlets, and designated branches of Central Bank, Canara Bank, Allahabad Bank, Jammu and Kashmir Bank, Federal Bank, as well as at selective Bharat Petroleum pumps.

Last year, the 27th edition of IITF was a huge success with participation of around 7,500 Indian companies and 380 overseas companies from 44 nations. Over three millions of visitors had witnessed the fair.