The Hindu : Kerala News : Trade festival authority mooted

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Monday, Feb 04, 2008
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Kerala

Kerala

Trade festival authority mooted

Staff Reporter

KOCHI: The State government is planning to set up a Trade Festival Authority to market the State as a major global shopping destination, Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac has said.

He was delivering the presidential address at the valedictory function of the 45-day-long first Grand Kerala Shopping Festival (GKSF) here on Sunday.

Dr. Isaac said such festivals would give a boost to the industrial, commercial and agricultural sectors. “The tourism sector too will benefit considerably from this. While the Dubai Shopping Festival is confined to the city, the GKSF is spread across the State. We will enter into an agreement with merchants and manufacturers who sell quality products in a hygienic setting, giving due place to commerce in the scheme of things.” The government had started planning the second festival.Industries Minister Elamaram Karim said that the GKSF, the first such endeavour in the State, had some shortcomings. “The festival authority would give a boost to such ventures. We have to find new markets for cashew, coir, spices and handicraft and handloom products unique to the State. The ‘made in Kerala’ brand should be popularised,” he said.

The festival was a joint initiative of the Industries and Tourism Departments. Tourism Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said the exchequer netted Rs.9,200 crore from tourism last year.

Industries Secretary T. Balakrishnan said the festival provided an opportunity to more than 2000 small and big shops to sell their produce.

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