Trade fair to open Wednesday

New Delhi, Nov 12 (IANS) The 32nd edition of the annual India International Trade Fair (IITF) will open Wednesday with over 6,000 exhibitors and around 20 lakh visitors from India and abroad expected to throng the 14-day event, the official organiser has said.

President Pranab Mukherjee along with Mikhail V. Myasnikovich, prime minister of Belarus which has been accorded the status of ‘partner country’ will inaugurate the event being organised at Pragati Maidan, the country’s largest fair and exhibition venue, the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) said Monday.

South Africa is the ‘focus country’.

About 6,000 exhibitors and around 20 lakh visitors from India and abroad expected to take part in the event.

Organised by the ITPO, under the commerce ministry, IITF is the largest integrated trade fair in the country with both B2B (business to business) and B2C (business to consumer) components.

The first five days of the fair (Nov 14-18) will be reserved for business visitors only. The fair will open for general public Nov 19-27.

“This year ‘Skilling India’ is the theme of the fair, in line with the priority accorded by government to skill development in the country’s economic development,” said the ITPO in a statement.

“The participation of Jute Manufactures Development Council, Coir Board, khadi and village industries, cottage industries etc. to showcase the achievement of traditional sectors in appropriate perspective in order to reinforce their global appeal and standing,” it added.

The product profile of IITF 2012 include cosmetics, healthcare products, service sector, consultancy services, consumer electronics, home and kitchen appliances, textiles, leather goods, banks and insurance among others.

As many as 250 foreign exhibitors from 21 countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan, China, Turkey, Thailand etc. would showcase their products.

The IITF is one of the largest trade fairs in the world in terms of exhibitors and visitor participation.

In 2011, over 15 lakh visitors from India and abroad visited the IITF while 6,000 exhibitors including 230 from 26 countries participated in the fair.

IANS 2012-11-12 16:50:18