PROMOTING DIGITAL INDIA
Since most of the visitors come via Metro, an arrangement of dedicated bus services from Mandi House to Pragati Maidan has been made this year
Promoting a nation’s vision can be best achieved through a platform as wide and varied as an international trade fair, where one country gets to taste the culture, requirements and aptitude of another.
The 36th edition of India International Trade Fair starts from November 14 and will open to visitors from November 19-27. The trade fair will be inaugurated by the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee on November 14 at Hamsadhwani Theatre, Pragati Maidan, in the national Capital. There would be theme pavilions to showcase various initiatives taken up by the government for e-governance.
This year’s theme of the fair is ‘Digital India’ and as many as 7000 participants are taking part with South Korea being the ‘Partner Country’ and Belarus the ‘Focus Country’. The ‘Partner States’ this year are Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand while Haryana is participating as the ‘Focus State’. Added attractions to the visitors include the State Day celebra- tions, and cultural programmes along with street plays and puppet shows. The committee has arranged for an adequate number of CCTV cameras to ensure proper security. Shubhra Singh, Executive Director, ITPO informed that since 80 per cent of the visitors come via metros, they would arrange dedicated bus services from Mandi House to Pragati Maidan and as well open gate no 8 and 8A for operational use by the visitors. A 50 per cent discount on the normal tariff has been issued for start-up companies and entrepreneurs participating in the fair this year.
LC Goyal, Chairman and Managing Director, ITPO said that the current ban on denominations of Rs500 and Rs1000 will not affect the trade fair too much as the initial five days are meant for B2B dealings which does not demand cash, while from the sixth day as visitors enter the premises to experience the fair they will always have the opportunity to use their debit/credit cards besides online transaction opportunities. When asked about the absence of Paki- stan among the participants, Goyal informed that the process of application was not completed
by the latter country and hence they will not be participating in the 36th India International Trade Fair. Extending India’s global appeal for investment in diverse sectors, the fair also manifests a multipronged strategy for economic growth which is driven by ‘Make in India’ initiative and reforms to transform trade and industry into an engine of socioeconomic development.
Apart from featuring state-ofthe-art technologies services and innovations the fair aims to showcase immense variety and kaleidoscopic repertoire of India’s handicraft and handlooms with their multifarious hue, designs, motifs and techniques with diversity in both medium and method. The fair provides a reliable tested platform to SMES exporters, entrepreneurs and investors.
WHEN: November 14-27 WHERE: Pragati Maidan TIMING: 9:30AM-7:30PM