SHEKHAWAT ASKS
INDIAN INDUSTRIES TO STRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE TO SURGE AHEAD IN GLOBAL
COMPETITION
VICE
PRESIDENT INAUGURATES INDIA INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR 2002
JUDICIOUS
BLEND OF TECHNOLOGY-INVESTMENT NECESSARY IN INFRASTRUCTURE SECTOR
– RUDY
Vice President Shri
Bhairon Singh Shekhawat inaugurated 22nd edition of
the India International Trade Fair (November 14-27) 2002 here
today. Speaking at the inaugural function, Shri Shekhawat asked
Indian trade & industry to strive for the excellence to surge
ahead in the tough competition posed by the globalisation. Describing
the Trade Fair as a unique display of the competitive view of
the global entrepreneurs, the Vice President said that it had
provided the best opportunity to display the skills of the artisans
and craftsmen of the rural India. Mr.Alfonso Dulanto, Minister
of Mining, Government of Chile, Shri Shanta Kumar, Union Minister
of Rural Development, Shri Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Minister of State
for Commerce & Industry, Shri J. Vasudevan, Chairman &
Managing Director, India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) and
Shri Ranjan Chatterjee, Executive Director, ITPO were present
in the function along with Members of Parliament, Diplomats of
various Foreign Missions, Ministers from participating State Governments
and representatives of trade & industry.
Shri Shekhawat underlined
the fact that Indian products had potential to withstand the competition
because of its quality, artistic value and relatively lower price.
At the same time in the current WTO regime Indian industry should
make every possible efforts to maintain the quality and standards,
he added. Later, Shri Shekhawat also inaugurated "SARAS"
pavilion of handicraft/rural products set up by the Ministry of
Rural Development in association with CAPART.
In his address, Shri
Rudy underlined the need to have a judicious blend of technology-investment
in the infrastructure sectors of power, transport and communications.
He said that the business achievements at this fair were the best
indices of the distance covered by India’s economic reforms besides
being a vindication of the efforts to achieve greater levels of
value-addition in India’s exports. "Apart from substantial
export orders and enquiries, a number of MOUs for two way technology
transfers are also among the success stories of this fair",
he mentioned. The Minister termed this year’s theme "Services
Export and Tourism" as relevant and appropriate in the current
context since services sectors like IT and Telecom have been the
main driving force of Indian economy in recent years. He congratulated
ITPO for completing 25 years of valuable service to trade &
industry, which had helped to further the process of Indian economy
with the global mainstream.
Over 7000 firms from
India and overseas are taking part in this fair. These include
leading companies from China, Malaysia, Chile, Tunisia, Brazil,
Turkey, Hong Kong, Ukraine, Russia etc. The Special Displays include
Techmart, Hudco-Buildtech, Saras, Good Living etc., comprising
a wide range of products and services including engineering, automobiles,
electronics, chemicals, drugs & pharmaceuticals, leather,
textiles, telecommunications, jute, rubber, handicrafts, jewellery,
consumer goods and other sectors.
