New Delhi: Nearly 3,500 exhibitors from India and 13 countries are participating in the 42nd edition of the India International Trade Fair (IITF)-2023, which kicked off by Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Anupriya Patel, at the new-look Pragati Maidan in New Delhi today. The fair offers 13 days of trade and exhibition till November 27, 2023. This year’s theme of the fair is “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – United By Trade”.
The partner states for the event this year are Bihar and Kerala. At the same time, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Maharashtra and Jammu & Kashmir are the focus states. A total of 28 States and Union Territories are actively participating in the exhibition this year. Bihar was the partner state in 2021 too, when it also won the gold medal.
The participating countries at the annual magnum opus of the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Oman, Egypt, Nepal, Thailand, Turkiye, Vietnam, Tunisia, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Iran and UAE are actively taking part in the event from overseas.
The Kerala Pavilion was inaugurated by Kerala State Chief Secretary Dr. V. Venu. Along with Bihar, this year, Kerala is participating as a partner state, showcasing various products, and fostering collaborations and ventures. Kerala House officials and dignitaries attended the inaugural programme.
“Kerala is the partner state of India International Trade Fair 2023. Just as in earlier years, Kerala has set up a pavilion here at this Fair. Various products manufactured by public sector organizations in Kerala will be available at the trade fair. Thereby new collaborations and ventures will happen after this Trade fair. India International Trade Fair will pave the way for new business ventures,” Dr. Venu said.
The Kerala Pavilion includes products of the Cooperative Department Kerala Kala Kara Kaushala Village, Scheduled Tribes Development Department, Department of Agriculture Development and Farmers Welfare, Fisheries Department, Directorate of Handloom and Textiles, Kerala State Handloom Development Corporation Limited (Hanweave), Kerala State Cooperative Marketing Federation (Marketfed), Kerala State Bamboo Mission, Panchayat Department, Kerala Craft Development Co-operative Ltd., Rope Development Department, Kudumbashree, Kerala State Handloom Weavers Society Limited (HANTEX), Department of Culture. From here people will get details regarding Kerala products and that demand will be fully filled by the state.
44 stalls of Kerala have been set up in the pavilion in 624 square feet. It includes 10 theme stalls and 34 commercial stalls. The exhibition is arranged in hall five on the first floor.
The fair is expected to attract around 50,000 people on business days and up to 1.5 lakhs on weekends and provides a platform for the participants to display their innovations and ventures in trade, handicrafts, seafood, and agro-based products.
Delhi Police issued a traffic advisory urging people who were not visiting the Trade Fair to avoid or bypass Mathura Road, Bhairon Marg, Ring Road, Shershah Road and Purana Quila Road to ensure a “hassle-free” journey. It said that traffic congestion was expected on the days of the fair at these roads.
– global bihari bureau
