The India International Trade Fair (IITF) 2015, which will be held between November 14 and 27 at Pragati Maidan in the Capital, will offer a platform to young start-up entrepreneurs to showcase their products and concepts. The opportunity is being provided in line with the theme for the event — “Make in India”.
According to India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) CMD L.G. Goyal, 54 stalls in an area of 486 square metre will be provided at a discount of 50 per cent so that first-time entrepreneurs, who are not involved in family businesses, can showcase their innovative ideas.
The focus State this year is Madhya Pradesh, while Jharkhand and Goa are the partner States.
All State pavilions and other government pavilions have been asked to dedicate themselves to the Swachh Bharat Mission and Digital India initiative. The State pavilion that plays up the theme the best will receive an award.
Mr. Goyal said in an effort to get more school students to come to the fair, they will allow schools to make advance bookings at discounted rates. This is to allow children to enjoy the fair during the first five days — the “business only days” — and attract relatively less crowd.
The ITPO will also set up a link on its website, besides turning to crowd-sourcing, to receive suggestions on how to make the IITF a more visitor-friendly festival. Some of the suggestions the team has implemented this year include the facility of buying online tickets on business days. This facility will be extended to general tickets as well for the next edition.
To help visitors move around the festival with ease, six buses will ply on three circular routes stopping at every pavilion. Also, Hop On Hop Off (HOHO) buses will help people get to the venue from different parts of the city free of cost. Tickets for the fair will be sold aboard these buses too.
There will also be free sanitary napkin vending machines available in all women’s toilets.
A cultural extravaganza has been planned with classical, folk and sufi music, and dance programmes planned for every evening. Street-theatre performances, magic shows and State day celebrations will also add a zing to the festival. Although bookings are still open, 25 foreign countries have already registered to participate in the fair. The partner and focus country will soon be decided.
For the first time, a virtual-fair has also been organised to allow visitors to receive all information on stalls and contact details of owners in an online layout of the fair. This listing will be available throughout the year so that participants are able to connect even after the fair ends.
