For two weeks every November, part of central New Delhi becomes a nightmare for motorists and traffic police as mammoth crowds clog the streets near Pragati Maidan. They are visiting the India International Trade Fair, where around 6000 companies mostly from India and its Asian neighbours-display their products at the country’s biggest exhibition complex. Over the past 20 years, the IITF has grown into one of the largest trade fairs in the region and is described by the government organizers as their ‘magnum opus’.
The fair is open to foreign and domestic companies, but in reality it’s an elaborate showcase for India’s achievements in various industries, information technology, machinery, industrial equipment, agriculture, telecommunications, consumer durable, food products, textiles and clothing, giftware and kitchenware.
Pragati Maidan, the exhibition complex, the only one of its kind in India is spread across 149 acres and has 18 halls, 22 permanent pavilions, covered space of 130000 square metres and an open area of 180000 square metres.
The site is also equipped with support facilities such as banks, conference halls, information booths, theatres, parking areas, post office, restaurants and snack bars, fire service and power and water supply. And it’s easily accessible by road and rail.
Because the city enjoys good weather most of the year, Pragati Maidan hosts fair year round. Unlike IITF, however, the others are generally specialized events and cater to business visitors rather than the general public.
According to executive Director of ITPO, similar but smaller trade grounds are being built in the southern cities of Chennai and Bangalore. The fair ground at Chennai will be ready by the year-end, and the one in Bangalore, by the middle of the next year.
It’s all about being at the right place at the right time about meeting the relevant people, making contacts and finally cracking the elusive deal. But while you know how important trade fairs are, so are a thousand others.
Vocabulary
Mammoth—huge
Rail—sloping bars