India International Trade Fair-2016

New Delhi: The annual flagship  event  of  India  Trade  Promotion  Organisation (ITPO), the 36^th India International Trade Fair (November14-27, 2016) will be inaugurated by the  President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee on November 14, 2016 at Hamsadhwani Theatre, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. The Commerce & Industry Minister,  Smt. Nirmala Sitharamanwill preside over the inaugural  function.

This year, as many as 7000 participants are taking part in the fair. The ‘Partner Country’ is the ‘South Korea’ and the ‘FocusCountry’ is ‘Belarus’.  The ‘Partner States’ are ‘Madhya Pradesh’ and ‘Jharkhand’ while, ‘Haryana’ is participating   as the ‘Focus State’.  Over 150 companies from 27   countries are   taking   part in the   fair. These include:   Australia, Afghanistan, Belarus, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Germany, Hong Kong, Iran, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Myanmar, Netherlands, Oman, Sri Lanka, South Africa, South Korea, Singapore, Tibet, Turkey, Thailand, UAE and UK.

The domestic participation profile covers all the States and Union Territories, Central Government Ministries/Departments, Public Sector Undertakings, Export Promotion Councils, Commodity Board, Financial Institutions, Corporate and   non-government organisations etc. CAPART pavilion of the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of   India   is participating with around 800 rural artisans and craft persons, while 100 artisans are participating through National Minorities Development & Finance & Corporation.

This year, IITF and its ‘Digital India’ theme will project its deep commitment to fulfil the vision of the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India. The  theme   assumes  special  significance   for  highlighting country’s  persistent  efforts  to   alleviate  poverty  through  meaningful  convergence   of  digital  technologies and  e-governance.

Extending India’s global appeal for investment in diverse sectors, the fair  also manifests  a  multi-pronged strategy  of   Indian  economy  which is  driven  by ‘Make  in India’ initiative   and   reforms  to  transform  trade  and  industry  into  an  engine  of  socio- economic  growth. The   fair  also provides  a glimpse with updated  information  on  various  missions,  schemes and  initiatives, launched   by  the  Government, Swachh  Bharat  Campaign, Clean Ganga Mission, Jan Dhan Yojana, Skill India,  Adhar, 175 Solar  Mission,  Farmer  Corp  Insurance, Atal Mission for Rejuvenation  and Urban  Transformation(AMRUT),  Start up & Stand up  Campaign,  Smart Cities, Model Villages, etc. These programmes will be demonstrated prominently in the display profile of the pavilions of the States and Union Territories as well as standalone pavilions.

It  also   provides  first   hand  information of  the policies, progressive reforms and  the   new   schemes launched   by  the  Ministry  of  Commerce   and  Industry, Government  of  India  under the  Foreign  Trade  Policy (2015-2020).  These  schemes are  the  Merchandize  Exports  from  India  Scheme (MEIS) and  Services  Exports  from  India  Scheme (SEIS). Under these schemes incentives are available for SEZs and ‘e-Biz’ for promotion of diverse sectors.

Apart   from  featuring  the   state–of–the-art  technologies, products, services    and  innovations along-with CSR initiatives, the   fair  showcases immense  variety  and  kaleidoscopic repertoire of  India’s  handicrafts  and  handlooms  with  their  multifarious hues, designs, motifs  and  techniques with  diversity  in  both   medium  and  method.  The fair provides a reliable and tested platform to SMEs exporters, entrepreneurs and investors.

New initiatives:

• Introduction  of transparent online space booking 
• Online Ticket Booking for all days
• Arrangement  of  Wi-Fi at Hall No.7-12A, 14 and 18 and at 10 prime locations
• Ground Installation  of  seven  telecom  towers for  better   network  connectivity inside the  fair   complex
• ‘Mobile  App’  on  Android  and iOS platforms
• Round-Robin Bus Services
• New/Young/Start-up entrepreneurs have been earmarked in Hall 26 at 50 per cent discount of the normal tariff.
• Introduction of a new Round-Robin bus service between Mandi House Metro Station to Pragati Maidan.
• DMRC’s an exclusive channel to divert visitors from Metro Station (Pragati Maidan) to Gate No.8 & 8A of Pragati Maidan. This is the new gate introduced to accommodate entry in the morning and exit in the evening for better crowd management.
• This year ‘Digital India’ is the theme of IITF.  All States and Government Sectors will be arranging theme display (The dedicated theme pavilion being set up by Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DEITY) at Hall No.1.  DEITY will be organizing five seminars during the currency of business days at IITF.  DEITY will be promoting e-dustbins, e-governance,   e-lockers, etc).
• BSF will be organizing camel bands for inauguration with border guards & women warriors, rifle drills called “Bolts”, thrilling mobike display called “Jaaban”, etc.
• National Minority Development Finance Corporation will organize the participation of minority representation in IITF.
• Wild life tourism display with the selfie points Maharashtra Government.
• An exclusive Cosmetics pavilion being set up in the lake area to represent sectoral display.
• CSIR is showcasing India’s achievements in Research & Development sector.

User-friendly initiatives:

Ticketing:

• Business Visitors Registration Counters will be set up at Gate Nos.1, 2, 7 and 10 during the business days (Nov. 14-18, 2016, ticket: Rs.500/-) of the fair.  International Business Lounge (IBL) will be functioning at Gate 1, Pragati Maidan (Bhairon Road) to facilitate the visit of overseas trade delegations and visitors.
• Seasonal Ticket (November 14-27, 2016): Rs.1800/-.
• While the fair will be open to all the visitors (Ticket for Working Day: Adult Rs.60/ & Child Rs.40/-), Saturday/Sunday/Holiday from November 19 to 27, 2016 (Ticket for Adult Rs.120/- & Child Rs.60/-).
• School children are also allowed on business days with the advance purchase of tickets applicable for general days. There will not be free entry for concessional group charges for the students groups.
• The ticket may also be booked only through ITPO’s Website.  The ticket sale counters may be closed earlier if tickets for the day are sold out.
• Tickets will be available at ITPO Counters (Gate 1 & 2) and Delhi Metro Rail Stations. Timings for ticket sale 9.30 am to 5.00 pm 

Announcement of Missing Persons

• Fee for announcement of missing persons within Pragati Maidan: Rs.30/-. For such announcements, visitors should contact Central Facilitation Centre at Hall 1. ITPO is introducing free sanitary napkin vending points at women’s toilets.

ENTRY

• There will be free entry for senior citizens (60 years & above) and differently-abled persons on presentation of valid age/physical handicapped document with photo thereon from all gates from November 19 to 27, 2016.  Attendant to senior citizens and differently-abled has to purchase ticket as per the rate applicable on the particular day.
• Media entry I-Cards will be issued by the PR Unit, ITPO to the media persons who will be authorised   by their respective media house for the coverage of the fair from November 14 to 27, 2016.
• Press entry cards on the basis of prior intimation OB vans will be allowed from Gate 1 only.
• Entry of cars from Gate No.1 will be only for the Exhibitors, Service providers and other agencies with parking labels.

PARKING 

• No halting and parking is permitted outside any gate and inside Pragati Maidan for the visitors.
• Paid parking will be available at Delhi Zoo, Bhairon Road, Purana Qila Road, Pragati Maidan Metro Station/India Gate and other paid parking lots near Pragati Maidan.
• Visitors and exhibitors are advised to park their vehicles at Metro Stations nearest to their house.
• Press Parking at NSCI (Purana Qila Road)
• Government Departments Exhibitors, Pavilion Directors & Resident Commissioners with parking label only inside Gate 4 & 6
• ITPO officials inside parking Gate 3 & 4.
• The first aid services will be available near Hall 14 & 6, and Dispensary in Hall 19. Besides, the nearby Government Hospitals have been requested to keep their emergency medical services on alert during the fair.
• Initiation of circular bus services inside Pragati Maidan primarily for convenience of senior citizen and differently-abled persons.

IITF2016 is a collective effort of the ‘Team ITPO’ and its associates including different service agencies. It involves coordination with  security  agencies, various  municipal wings, transport  authorities,   State  Governments, customs, excise, media houses plethora   of   organisations  for  smooth  conduct  of  the   event.

IITF is  an  annual   magnum  opus   of  the ITPO, a  founding   member   of  the   Asian  Trade Promotion Forum(ATPF)  also  a   member  of  India  Convention  Promotion  Bureau (ICPB)  and  significantly, it   has   been  given  responsibility  to  play a role as  ‘Focal   Point’ for  the BRICS  Trade  Promotion   Group  based   on  the BRICS Contact  Group on  Economic  and  Trade  Issues(CGETI). Apart  from IITF, it   holds  world  class   fairs   and  expositions in the country  and  overseas, exploring  new   markets  of  Africa, ASEAN, Latin America,  North  America and  CIS  countries for  Indian   products   and  services.