The 41st edition of the India International Trade Fair (IITF) has started at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi today. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal inaugurated the fair. The fair will continue till the 27th of this month. During the inauguration ceremony, Minister of State for Commerce and Trade Anupriya Patel and Som Parkash were also present.
Talking to reporters after inaugurating the India International Trade Fair in New Delhi, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said, the government has taken several steps to strengthen the country’s economy in the last eight years. Mr Goyal said, India has emerged as a bright spot in the world and lead the world in the future. He said, the country is moving towards self-reliance. He underlined the importance of local industries in the development of economic activities.
This year the theme of the trade fair is Vocal For Local, Local to Global. The 14-day mega event assumes a special significance as it coincides with celebrations of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’. Twenty-nine States and Union Territories are participating in the event. Bihar, Jharkhand and Maharashtra are Partner States while Uttar Pradesh and Kerala are participating as Focus States in the fair. Besides, various Central Ministries, Departments, Commodity Boards and PSUs are participating in this event to showcase their achievements.
More than 12 foreign countries including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Belarus, Iran, Nepal, Thailand, Turkey, UAE and UK are participating in the fair.
NITI Aayog Member (Health) Dr V K Paul today inaugurated the Health Pavilion at the 41st India International Trade Fair in New Delhi today. The theme of this year’s pavilion of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is- Heal in India, Heal by India.
Addressing the gathering, Dr Paul urged everyone to take the message of health in a mission mode. He highlighted the need to create awareness among people for diseases like Amenia and Diabetes which remain invisible until diagnosed. Dr Paul encouraged all stakeholders to use the Health Pavilion as a micro-system for triggering a Jan Andolan towards better health.
The Health Pavilion showcases various initiatives, schemes and achievements of the Union Health Ministry. This includes the recently launched PM TB-Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, National Universal Immunisation Programme and Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has called for more trade fairs at national and state levels to strengthen the trade fair ecosystem and to promote local arts and crafts. He was addressing the gathering after inaugurating the 41st Edition of the India International Trade Fair in New Delhi today. He opined that local fairs must be organized across the country, so that traditional and local handicrafts and handlooms receive a boost. Mr Goyal said, these local fairs must also focus on improving packaging and design elements.
The Minister suggested that efforts should be made to drive all financial transactions at the fair to digital platforms. He said, around 600 crore digital transactions took place in India last month. Mr Goyal said that the PM GatiShakti Master Plan may be utilised to plan fairs and exhibitions throughout the country.