International Guwahati Trade Fair (IGTF) has developed in to North-East India’s number one trade exposition for development of industrial trade relationship. Organised by the Industries and Trade Fair Association of Assam (ITFAA), the 15^th IGTF was successfully held this year from February 29 to March 13.

Once again, like every year, this key international event gave exhibitors the chance to market themselves profitably, intensify or make new contacts as well as identify and seize opportunities within the market. IGTF is now the one and only nice trade platform for local, regional and global business houses ken to enter the North-East and to make further inroads in the rapidly growing market.

Over the years IGTF has grown to become an acclaimed trade platform for the big, medium and small businessmen from all over the country as well as the world. On one side there was the best that corporate India has to offer but at the same time the participation of more than 200 entrepreneurs from across the country under the National Small Industries Corporation Limited and the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) in the 15^th IGTF’ 2008 clearly showed that there is space for both these parameters to flourish side by side in the North-East region.

Like previous years, the international segment was the star attraction. For Thailand, it was the third consecutive year at the IGTF under the banner of Department of Export Promotion (DEP), Royal Thai Government. Around 30 Thai companies exhibited and sols their products at the 15^th IGTF. Other countries like Bangladesh, Myanmar, Pakistan, Kenya and Turkey also kept up their participation in the IGTF, buoyed by the love and response they had received on previous years. This year Sri Lanka and UAE mad their debut at the IGTF. The Czech Republic was also suppose to make its debut but some custom bottlenecks deprived IGTF’ 08 from getting another friend from Europe this year.

Making a departure from the normal process, ace shuttler and former Olympian from Assam, Deepankar Bhattacharjee opened the trade fair and footballer Gobindo Boro , due to whose sterling display Assam had won the football gold in the 33^rd National Games, was made the brand ambassador of the 15^th IGTF by ITFAA to project an image og youth and vitality for the region.

IGTF has a distant French connection. Eiffel Tower, a global icon of France and one of the most popular and easily recognizable structures in the world, came alive in the 15^th IGTF at Guwahati. Participants and visitors were both mesmerized by the 72 feet replica of this wonder at the 15^th IGTF. According to ITFAA, apart from creating a global ambience, the prototype of the Eiffel Tower symbolized great endeavour, achievement, indomitable spirit, peace and friendship.

After successful promotion of Meghalaya and Golaghat last year in the 14^th IGTF, this year ITFFA  promoted Nagaland and Barpeta district of Assam. Selected entrepreneurs from Nagaland and Barpeta were provided free space in the 15^th IGTF and special interactive sessions with foreign companies were arranged for their benefit.

On March 7, an international buyer-seller show was organized by ITFAA in a city hotel in colloaboration with Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textile, Government of India. All the foreign participants at the 15^th IGTF participated in this meet. The IGTF continues to grow bigger and better. The 15^th edition was another successful chapter in this process.       

Moreover, what could give a new lease of life to the handicraft sector of the North East region, around 8O potential international buyers from eight different countries pledged to import the North-East produced handicraft within a very short time. 

These countries include Thailand, Turkey, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Myanmaar, UAE and Czech Republic.

 This development came after the Assam Industry and Commerce Minister Pradyut Bordoloi  assured to initiate all steps that are required to penetrate global market for the region's handicraft.

 Bordoloi was speaking as a chief guest in the international buyers-sellers meet being organized by the Industries and Trade Fair Association of Assam, NE region in collaboration with Development Commissioner(Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles, Govt. of India at  Guwahati.

 "The handicraft of the North East has always been products to reckon with in the international market but for some reasons it has failed to penetrate potential market for it," he said.

 "The sheer convergence of so many foreign participants in the ongoing 15th International Guwahati Trade Fair has reiterated the fact that the man-made boundaries is of no importance when it comes to dealing with the NE, which is a very positive sign for the region," Bordoloi said, while adding, "The Centre's Look-East policy is also going to get a major boost by the exchange programme between the North East and the other foreign countries, which is likely to take place through this buyers-sellers meet."

 S Dhkar, regional director, NER, DC Handicraft, Ministry of Textile, Government of India while echoing the voice of Bordoloi said, "The export of handicrafts during 2006-07 has been estimated at Rs 17,288 crore, showing an increase of 17 per cent over 2005-06 average growth but the Government of India is now laying special and unprecedented impetus to increase the export market of handicrafts, of which the NE is an integral part." 

 "At present, the share of exports of our country in world market is below 2 per cent, which the Centre is trying to improve upon," he said.

 He further informed that the target of handicrafts exports for the year 2007-08 has been envisaged as 4500 USD, which in the last year was around 9 billion USD.

"The Centre is launching some new schemes during the 11th Plan, particularly to help the cause of exporters and manufacturers of handicrafts.. In this endeavor, the Centre is giving special stress on ushering in technological development and design innovations," he pointed out.

"A couple of such schemes like Integrated Development Project to improve upon the designs of the handicrafts to boost the export market are already in place, wherein a host of international renowned designers will impart technical lesson on improving the design based on an international survey on contemporary demand," he stated.         

"Most of the foreign participants have interacted with the local entrepreneurs and have already placed orders for handicrafts in bulk amount. I am sure the NE would soon fetch business world several crores within a year or two," he stated. 

The exporters involved in trade should come up to improve their production and quality to give way to an unprecedented exchange programme between the region and the rest of world," Dhkar added. 

Tharadol Thongruang, commercial councilor, Thai Embassy and Qamrul Hassan, Ist secretary (commercial), Deputy High Commission Office, Bangladesh were among the other noted personalities present on the occasion 

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