Focus on West Bengal

New Delhi, November 14:

The 25th edition of the India International Trade Fair (IITF), one of Asia’s largest, was inaugurated by Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh at the Pragati Maidan grounds here today with the focus this year on power and telecom. Some 7,500 companies from India and abroad are participating at the 14-day long event with Thailand as the focus country occupying 900 sq metres of space and Uttaranchal as the partner state. West Bengal is the focus state at this year’s event.

Over 30 countries are taking part in the fair, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Egypt, Syria, China, the US, Britain, Russia, Bhutan, Algeria and Sudan. “Over these 25 years, this trade fair has not only become an important event in India but also across Asia,” Manmohan Singh said in his inaugural speech, “The magnitude and scale of participation from both India and abroad is evidence of the robust health of the Indian industry and an affirmation of the tremendous market potential that our country has to offer.” “Around 50 trade team are expected to attend the fair this year.”