SUDHIR KUMAR / NEW DELHI
The 39th India International Trade Fair began at Pragati Maidan here today.The theme of this year is ‘Ease of Doing Business’.
Inaugurating the fair, Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Nitin Gadkari expressed happiness that the focus states this year are Jharkhand and Bihar.
He said it is really good thinking of organiser to give more priority to areas which are industrially and economically backward.
The Minister said India is celebrating 150th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and he believed in maximum production with the involvement of a maximum number of persons.
Mr Gadkari said there is a need to create more employment potential as it is essential for eradication of poverty.
The first five days of the event are reserved for business. The fair will be open for the general public from the 19th of this month. People can visit the fair from 9:30 AM to 7:30 PM.
Several countries, including Australia, Iran, UK, Vietnam, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Egypt, Hong Kong and Indonesia, are participating in the 14-day trade fair.
This year, the status of Partner Country has been accorded to Afghanistan while South Korea will be the focus country.