Although the Trade Fair in New Delhi, India has started yesterday the 14th of Nov 2012, I might be late but have surely not missed out on writing about this mega industrial cum shopping cum loitering cum eating cum time pass (for some or many) affair.
The Trade Fair in Saddi Dilli is conducted every year by the ITPO between the 14th and 27th November at the Pragati Maidan which is specially built for this purpose in Central Dilli. The India Trade Promotion Organization (ITPO) is the nodal agency of the Government of India for promoting the country’s external trade. ITPO, during its existence of nearly three decades, in the form of Trade Fair Authority of India and Trade Development Authority, has played a proactive role in catalyzing trade, investment and technology transfer processes. Its promotional tools include organizing of fairs and exhibitions in India and abroad, buyer-seller meets, contact promotion programs, product promotion programs, and promotion through overseas department stores, market surveys and information dissemination.
India International Trade Fair (IITF) is the largest trade fair in this part of the world. The IITF, 2011 saw participation of 7,000 exhibitors, including overseas participation from 28 countries, representing over 350 companies. A large number of domestic and foreign business persons visited the fair and the fair attracted trade delegations from 73 countries. Over one million general visitors also visited the fair during 14-27th November, 2011. This year the theme is “Skilling India”. I believe the theme “Skilling India” is most pertinent, contemporary and is an extremely important objective of our policy today. The product profile of IITF 2012 include Cosmetics, Healthcare products, Service sector, Consultancy services, Consumer Electronics, Home & Kitchen Appliances, Fitness equipment, Optical and Eye care products, Textiles, Jute and Coir, Leather Goods, Footwear & Travel Goods, SARAS (rural art and craft products), Banks, Insurance, Financial Services, Processed Food & Agro Products, building Industry products, products from Small and Medium size Enterprise, products from Khadi (KVIC), Ministries & Government Departments and various products from Foreign Countries.
The IITF experiences a diverse visitor profile starting right from the CEOs and the Senior Managers of the trade and industry to the elite overseas trade delegations, foreign emissaries, business leaders and decision makers to the government brass which includes the policy makers and the thinkers, the civil servants and media persons and last but not the least the common man. The business type people prefer to visit the IITF during the business hours and even choose to pay a premium price for the same if they have not been lucky enough to get their hands on the VIP passes.
The others, i.e. the general public, the school / college / office bunkers and the free or as we call it in Hindi Vella people generally visit the IITF during the general visiting hours and pay a nominal entry fee. Most of them however are able to get the VIP passes courtesy their friends working at the stalls inside the trade fair. The tickets are available at most of the Delhi Metro stations and be sure to experience huge crowds and long queues while trying to enter the most frequented pavilions of China, Delhi, crafts, technology, Indian Army and so on. Parking around the IITF grounds is a menace, so it is wise idea to travel using metro if you only plan to visit the fair or else park your vehicles at the already designated spots that are at a little distance from the Pragati Maidan however free ferries are available to the Pragati Maidan throughout the day.
Leave a Reply