Date:06/09/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/09/06/stories/2005090602221900.htm

Back International furniture fair in Mumbai next month

Our Bureau

Hyderabad , Sept 5

INDEX International Furniture Fair (INDEX 2005), an international fair, is to be held during October 12-16 in Mumbai. The trade fair would focus on finished furniture and accessories, lighting, and switches and accessories.

Inter-Furn, international trade fair on Furniture Hardware, intermediates, and woodworking machinery and tools will be held concurrently with the Index 2005, according to Mr Liyakat Ali Khan, Managing Director of Mumbai-based Universal Expositions Ltd, organisers of the fairs.

Speaking to newspersons today, he said that Index Fairs 2005 is expected to have more than 200 participants from around the world. All those who deal in furniture and associated products and intermediaries, besides mass merchandisers from all over India, Europe, South-East Asia, and the Gulf, will participate in the fair. Mr Khan also said that in furniture imports India ranked first (from 1-1-04 to 15-7-05) importing 17 per cent of the total imports in furniture worldwide.

INDEX FAIRS 2005 will provide a platform for National Institute of Design (NID) and Industrial Design Centre (IDC) to showcase the talents of the budding design specialists of the country.

It will have the presence of more than 60 exhibitors from Italy. Participation by Federlegno Arredo of Milan, with 15 companies showcasing Italian furniture and lighting, will be one of the special features.

Federlegno Arredo is a federation of furniture associations in Italy and is one of the largest bodies representing the furniture industry internationally.

Malaysia and China are represented by over 45 companies, apart from individual participation from other parts of the world.