Trade fairs being organised by India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) helped micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) reach out to export markets such as Japan, Latin America, Africa, West Asia and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries, said its Chairperson and Managing Director Rita Menon here on Thursday.
These fairs, generally specialised ones that concentrate on a particular sector, provided a platform for suppliers and consumers to meet, she said while addressing the ‘Mupperum Vizha’ of Madurai District Tiny and Small Scale Industries Association (MADITSSIA). The trade body’s 38th anniversary was celebrated. Besides, three awards — Visvesvaraya Award-2011 for best small scale industry in southern districts; Women Entrepreneur Award- 2011 given in association with Sakthi Masala; and the Service Industry Award 2011 given jointly with the TVS groups — were presented. An MoU was signed with ITPO.
Ms. Menon said that the ITPO conducted fairs at several locations including New Delhi and Chennai, on various sectors such as hardware, food, printing, textiles and pharmaceuticals. The exhibition industry was growing in India at a pace even higher than in China.
While conceding that the Indian economy was under pressure because of various developments in many areas, she said that the economy could still rebound.
Speaking earlier, Neeraj Kumar Gupta, Executive Director of ITPO, said that while big companies had easy access to expos held domestically and aboard, small units needed assistance to take part in them and gain exposure. The ITPO conducted around a dozen expos domestically and more than 30 business fairs abroad.
“Potential untapped”
Collector Anshul Mishra said that less than 40 per cent of Madurai’s potential had been realised so far and expressed hope that recent developments would ensure the untapped potential got realised.
V.S. Manimaran, MADITSSIA president; K.S. Serma Pandiyan, secretary; KR. Gnanasambandan, vice-president, Tamil Nadu Small and Tiny Industries Association (TANSTIA); and N.R. Subramaniaraja, past chairman of All India Manufacturers’ Organisation (AIMO), spoke.
