SSIs to participate in Chicago, Cairo trade shows

A large number of Indian SSI (small scale industry) units are likely to participate in the 2004 International Home and House Ware Show in Chicago (US) to be organised from March 20 to 22 and the Cairo International Fair to be held from March 16 to 26.

Both these shows are been organised by the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) with the twin aims of promoting Indian products and technologies and identifying areas of investment as well as joint ventures in the US and Egypt, an official release of the Vapi Industries Association (VIA) said.

"The 2004 International Home and House Ware Show is one of the rare platforms to do business with the world's largest audience of buyers and importers. Every year more than 6,000 of the world's most important house ware buyers, manufacturers, distributors, suppliers and merchandising experts gather to do business in this show," the release added. Similarly participation in the Cairo fair offers vast avenue for motivating the Indian industries to market their products, services and technologies in the Egypt and the Arab world.

Products to be displayed at the Chicago fair include kitchen, dining and decorative products, electronics and home healthcare, cleaning and hardware, clothing care and storage products and seasonal and general merchandise products.

The export figure of India to Egypt is $216 million during April-December 2002 period. On the other hand, imports from Egypt are at $163.55 million. "As such there is an immense scope to add more products and services to the existing trade basket," the release stated.

At present, Egypt is focusing on such sectors as information technology, agro industries, auto components, phosphates, urea, textiles etc.

Egyptian imports from India mainly consist of processed vegetables, fresh fruits, seeds of vegetables and fruits, shellacs, castor oil, floriculture products, basmati rice, coffee and pulses.

Indian on the other hand imports cotton yarn and fabrics, spices, fertilizers, coal, coke and briquettes, organic and inorganic chemicals, medicinal and pharmaceutical products.

Export worthy quality conscious SSI units conforming to the international standards capable of manufacturing the above products and ISO 9000 certified units will be preferred. The product samples and exhibits from each unit should not exceed 30 kgs including the weight of packaging.

The participation of the selected SSI units will be at Government's expense and the SSI units exhibiting their products will not be required to make payment towards space rent, to and fro freight shipping charges, handling and clearing insurance charges etc.