President Pratibha Patil today inaugurated the annual India International Trade Fair (IITF) which is expected to attract two million visitors, who will converge at Pragati Maidan here over the next two weeks.
Nearly 7,500 exhibitors from 28 countries are participating in the 29th Edition of the IITF, which will remain open exclusively for business visitors for the first five days.
It would open for the general visitors from November 19 till it concludes on November 27. While the number of days when the general visitors can come have been curtailed this year, timing has been extended with the fair opening at 09:30 am. In the past, the fair used to be open for business visitors till afternoon, and general public were allowed only after 2 pm on all but weekends.
Inaugurating the popular fair, the President said the "future belongs to innovation, invention and enterprise". She said the Indian economy has come a long way since it took to the path of reforms in the early '90s. While the reforms have thrown open many opportunities, several challenges have also surfaced.
As the IITF's opening coincides with the Children's Day, children dressed in Khadi holding balloons of tricolour, marked their conspicuous presence at the function which was also attended by Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit and Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal.
Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma, who presided over the opening ceremony, announced the Centre's decision to build a world class convention centre in the national capital.