Chandigarh, October 9: The Punjab Governor and Administrator, Union Territory, Chandigarh, General (Retd.) Dr. S.F. Rodrigues, PVSM VSM, inaugurated the CII Chandigarh Consumer Fair– 2009 at Parade Ground, Sector 17, here this evening. Organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry to create and sustain an environment conducive to the growth of industry and bringing national and international business entrepreneurs on one platform, the annual event this year has added various new attractions and showcases the latest available products and services for the consumes of the region. About 200 companies including 125 repeat participants and 71 first time participants have aesthetically displayed their consumer products in various sections systematically categorized for the customers.
The unique feature of the fair is the show case of products from Thailand, Turkey, Egypt, Indonesia and Pakistan. Enthused by the response last year, Pakistan has sponsored over 25 companies exhibiting their specialties to the consumers.
Accompanied by Mrs. Jean Rodrigues and Mr. M.P. Singh, Secretary to Governor, the Administrator went around the exhibition and took a keen interest in the exhibits displayed in the Mega show. The Chairman CII, Mr. Partap K. Aggarwal and other CII members escorted the Governor and Mrs. Rodrigues around the Fair and briefed him about the exhibits. He interacted with the entrepreneurs and industrialists and appreciated the wide array of products and services at the different pavilions.
Appreciating the organizational capabilities of the event, General Rodrigues said that such events, with the participation of entrepreneurs and business giants from different parts of the world offer a great opportunity for sharing technologies and expertise, besides exploring markets for potential investors. He emphasized the need of institutionalizing such events to provide an opportunity to the global business and trade community to share their state-of-art technologies and give a new push to the concept of one corporate world for the benefit of consumers.
During his visit to the stalls of the Association of women entrepreneurship and career, he mentioned ‘a very laudable endeavour. Well done and keep it up’. He said that the empowerment of women is essential for progress and prosperity of the Nation. In this mega show besides various international companies, the States of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Goa and Rajasthan have participated with their handicrafts, furniture goods, interior and exterior decorated items, telecom hard and software, health and fitness equipment and varied music systems, televisions, refrigerator, air conditioners, home theatre system and washing machines. The big players in the big companies like Toshiba, Panasonic, HDFC Bank and real estate players including Jaipuria , Skylark Apartments, Palm Court, EMAAR MGF, Axiom Realtors have participated with their best deals.
The four-day Fair, which has become popular with the life of the City has attracted massive participation and the organizers expect over 2 lakh visitors from Chandigarh and neighbouring States of Punjab, Delhi, J&K, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. Various new products by the participating companies are also being launched during the Fair. A cultural troupe from Gujranwala (Pakistan) enthralled the audience with his nicely presented composition on Jugnee – A Punjabi folk lore.