Top global retailers like WalMart, Gap and Zara are likely to visit the textiles sourcing fair "Tex-Trends 2011", showcasing a wide range of items like yarn, garments and accessories, will be inaugurated by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on February 2.
The three-day fair, which would be organised by the Textiles Ministry along with the Ministry of Commerce, would see 733 exhibitors participation representing 11 export promotion councils like apparel, handicrafts, carpet and silk.
"About 1,500 registered buyers from 159 countries like the US, UK, Turkey and Germany including WalMart, Gap and H&M have been registered to visit this mega business-to-business fair," Textiles Secretary Rita Menon said here.
She added, the maximum number of confirmed buyers are coming from the US about 250 followed by the UK 186, Turkey 156 and Germany 120.
The Textiles Secretary also announced that this event would be organised annually aimed at promoting the country's textiles sector.
The exhibition, spread over 50,000 square metres covering almost 800 stalls at Pragati Maidan, would not only showcase garments and accessories but also a wide range of products like home furnishing, handlooms, textiles designing, jute and carpets.
"This kind of exposition, which will combine all the segments of the textiles industry together, is taking place for the first time in India. It is a perfect way to showcase the strength of the entire Indian textile industry," Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Textiles, V Srinivas said.
The sector, which provides employment to 90 million poeple both directly and indirectly, contributes 14 per cent to industrial production and 5 per cent to the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
