Processing .....please wait.. 
The article has been forwarded.... 
India International Trade Fair opens
Friday, 15 November 2002, 20:30 IST
NEW DELHI: India's biggest trade show got off to a grand start here Thursday, with Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat urging industry to strive for better quality and price competitiveness.
Shekhawat inaugurated the 22nd India International Trade Fair (IITF) at Pragati Maidan here.
"The nation is striking a balance of promoting trade and investment while strengthening its small and medium enterprises, which have done remarkably well in domestic as well as international markets," he said at the fair.
About 7,000 companies from India and 25 other countries are taking part in the two-week-long IITF, organised by the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO).
IITF has developed over the years as one of the biggest multi-product trade fairs of Asia. The main theme of the annual event this year is "Services Exports and Tourism".
China has the biggest presence at the fair, accounting for 164 of the 400 overseas participants.
Other participating countries include Malaysia, Chile, Tunisia, Iraq, Brazil, Turkey, Nepal, the United Arab Emirates, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, Iran, Vietnam, Ukraine, Tanzania, Kazakhstan, Russia, Kenya and Myanmar.
Shekhawat underscored the need to give a thrust in conventional areas like small-scale industries and handicrafts, in addition to emerging service sector areas like IT and tourism.
He called on big industries "to provide infrastructure support to small and medium enterprises apart from strengthening their human resources and technological development".
Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Rajiv Pratap Rudy said the fair had brought together a large number of industrial, scientific and technological enterprises from different countries.
"The fair is the best indicator of the distance covered by India's economic reforms and globalisation programmes," he said.
Applauding India for its growth and progress, Chilean Mining Minister Alfonso Dulanto said his country looked forward to stronger commercial relations with India.
Around 60 companies from Chile are participating in the fair.
ITPO chairman and managing director J. Vasudevan said the theme of the fair, 'Services Exports and Tourism', was chosen considering the untapped potential of these sectors in contributing to the national economy.
Promising a lot of entertainment and insight into India's diverse culture, the IITF has special displays on housing, small-scale sector, rural handicrafts and consumer goods.
Laser shows, special screening of Amitabh Bachchan movies, cultural shows from various Indian states and performances by artists from Japan, Thailand and Malaysia promise a lot of entertainment during the next two weeks.
The Chinese stalls are expected to be a major attraction with a range of goods from mobile phones to consumer electronics, automobiles, motorcycles, machinery and equipment, precision instruments, textiles and garments and consumer goods industry.
As a special gesture, senior citizens and physically challenged persons are being allowed free entry this year. School children accompanied by teachers will also be allowed free entry on weekdays.
Source: IANS
Source: IANS