The India Pavilion at the Canton Fair was inaugurated today by Mr. Rahul Chhabra, Charge D’ Affaires, Embassy of India, Beijing and Mr. Indra Mani Pandey, Consul General of India, Guangzhou. They met with the Indian businessmen who have exhibited their products and encouraged them to explore the Chinese market for their exports, stressing that in view of China’s strategy to encourage domestic consumption, the demand for Indian goods and services may increase in future. They offered to provide any assistance required by Indian exporters in exploring Chinese market for their products and services.

Canton Fair is held twice in a year in three phases in April-May and October-November. Only Phase I and III are open for foreign exhibitors, who are allowed to display their products in the international pavilion. Canton Fair is regarded as the largest trade fair of China and it has been regularly held since 1957. It attracts large number of foreign buyers who visit Canton Fair mainly to buy Chinese commodities.

India has been participating in the ‘International Pavilion’ of the Fair since 2008 and India’s participation in the Canton fair has been coordinated by the Federation of Indian Exporters Organization (FIEO). 35 Indian companies are taking part in the Phase I of the 111th Session of the Canton Fair, which is held from April 15 to 19, 2012. Indian Pavilion comprises 70 booths. Indian companies have displayed products ranging from carpets, leather goods, household goods, coir mats, hand tools, ceramic tiles, submersible pumps, inverters and batteries, stainless steel kitchenware, PVC pipes, air coolers, pressure cookers, etc.