The Hindu : New Delhi News : Neighbouring countries net deals at IITF

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Nov 26, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Neighbouring countries net deals at IITF

By Madhur Tankha

The Kerala Tourism Minister, K.C. Venugopal, going round the Kerala Pavilion at the India International Trade Fair in New Delhi on Thursday.

NEW DELHI, NOV. 25. They may be doing brisk sales over the counter at the ongoing India International Trade Fair at Pragati Maidan here, but China, Pakistan and Bangladesh are keen to establish long-term trade ties with the host country. The representatives of these countries have been holding hectic discussions and negotiating commercial deals with Indian importers during the business hours of the fair.

Showcasing their specialised products at the IITF, these neighbouring countries have received a positive response from the Indian distributors.

Corroborating this fact, the General Manager of the India Trade Promotion Organisation, Safdar H. Khan, says the ongoing fair has seen an increase in the number of Indian businessmen -- either transacting business or making polite inquiries -- at the stalls of these countries.

China has come with a huge contingent of 100 participants. The Project Manager of the Genertec International Advertising and Exhibition Company Limited, Yu Feng Xie, says Indian importers and dealers from Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkata and Mumbai have clinched deals with Chinese exporters mainly in colour television, garments and silk.

"You not only have a huge market for our products but also a great deal of products which can be of tremendous importance to us. China wants to import not only software from India, but also medicines, audio parts and carpets," adds Mr. Xie.

About 50 Pakistani exporters at the fair want the scope of their visas to get extended beyond the boundaries of Delhi. Because of visa restrictions, they cannot make trips to cities like Ahmedabad and Mumbai to negotiate more business with Indian dealers.

On the positive side, Muhammad Amin Khatri of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry, said: "We have received a tumultuous response. Shan Food Industries -- dealing with spices and pickles -- have negotiated business with many Indian exporters. Many importers from Rajasthan have shown interest in our traditional handicrafts and clinched deals. Similarly, many Indian dealers have purchased onyx in bulk from our stalls."

Mr. Khatri said because of interaction between the business communities of the two countries this year, business worth 300 million dollars has been done.

In March 2005, Lahore will be holding the "Made in India" fair in which 300 Indian companies would be participating. The frequent exchanges between the two countries were not only boosting business but also tourism and trade. "Now, there has been a lot of relaxation in visa formalities and the Indian Customs department is very co-operative with our trade delegation," he said.

The Director of the Bangladesh Export Promotion Board, Faridul Hasan, who is in charge of the participants, from his country, notes that 23 companies are taking part in the fair.

"We are projecting industrial products like dry cell battery, agro and melamine products here. In edible products, we are exhibiting biscuits, jams and jellies. The famous Jamdani saris are back in the reckoning. In jute, Bangladesh has an edge over India. We are the largest exporters of jute in the world."

"Presently, Bangladesh exports goods worth 100 million dollars to India while Indian exports to our country is more than 2 billion dollars. The balance is highly in favour of India. We are going in for product adaptation by observing the design patterns of products like leather in foreign stalls and Indian State pavilions," added Mr. Hasan.

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