Date:06/09/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/09/06/stories/2005090600191900.htm

Back Kochi B2B meet begins today

Our Bureau

Kochi , Sept 5

THE stage is set for the second Business-to-Business Meet organised by the State Government here from September 6 to 8 at the Galfar International Convention Centre.

This year's event will showcase eight key sectors of the State such as coir, handicrafts including khadi and village products, textiles and garments, processed food and spices, rubber and rubber products and printing and packaging etc.

The three-day event is expected to attract 400 members from the National and International Trading and buyer community. A total of 290 manufacturing units from the State have registered and confirmed participation in the meet, Mr T.O. Sooraj, Director of Industries and Commerce, said at a press meet.

The Chief Minsiter, Mr Oommen Chandy, will inaugurate the meet and the Industries Minister, Mr V.K. Ebrahim Kunju, will deliver the presidential address.

Mr Subhod Kant Sahay, Union Minister of State for Food Processing Industries, will be the chief guest.

Mr Sooraj said that surpassing the past records and projections, the B2B 2005 had already attracted confirmed registrations of 300 national and 50 international buyers.

International buyers from the UK, Canada, Korea, Netherlands, Germany, South Africa, the Philippines, Malaysia, Jordan, Belgium and Pakistan are expected to participate. Sudan has confirmed their participation for the meet. Renowned companies from India such as Larsen and Toubro, Novartis, Hindalco, Toyota, Videocon International, EMKE group have also confirmed participation, he added.

Last year, the meet was able to generate a business of Rs 100 crore and this year, the Government has set a target of Rs 125 crore from the show, he said.

B2B 2004 had succeeded in creating a platform for the industrialists in the State to have in-depth interaction and one-to-one meetings with the business houses, buyers, trade associates, trade representatives of foreign embassies from all over the country and abroad.

The event is being organised by the Department of Industries in association with Kerala Bureau of Industrial Promotion (K-BIP), KSIDC, KINFRA, CII and Kerala Small Scale Industries Association.

The objective of the meet is to provide an opportunity to the SME's to access global markets for their products. It will provide a platform for the industrial enterprises to have in-depth interaction and one to one meetings with buyers, industrialists, trade associations from India and abroad, thereby giving them an insight to international markets and the buyers requirements.

The meet will also help the State's manufacturing sector to conceive and implement international quality standards to access international markets. The event will also emphasise the change in perception of Kerala from a consumerist society to a manufacturing State.