The Hindu Business Line : Kerala B2B meet likely to be held annually

THE three-day Kerala Business to Business Meet 2004, which concluded here on Saturday, has witnessed over 2,000 one to one interactions between buyers and sellers in various sectors in the State.

Briefing presspersons on the concluding day, Mr P.H. Kurian, Secretary (Investment Promotion) and Director of Industries said that the overwhelming response to the meet is a reflection of the `feel good factor' existing in the manufacturing especially the small and medium sector in Kerala.

"The response we received from a cross section of buyers from different parts of the country and abroad shows that the event has succeeded in meeting its objectives," he said.

Describing the event as a great success, Mr Kurian said the Government is considering making Kerala B2B Meeting an annual event. This would go a long way in our efforts to create a global brand image for the products from Kerala. This is a new beginning and the Government is confident that the ethically manufactured products of Kerala can grow as a global brand, he added.

Apart from traditional sectors such as spice and coir, he said the event has helped to bring the spotlight on new opportunity areas such as ayurveda, herbal products, machinery, wood based products etc. The number of buyers who took part in the event was estimated to be around 250.

Since most of the participant companies and firms came with more than one delegate, the total number of buyers who took part in the event was more than number of the confirmed registered participants.

Trade delegations from eight countries such as Netherlands, US, Canada, Australia, Bulgaria, Sweeden, Slovakia and Germany also attended the meet.

B2B Kerala also attracted 42 individual registrations from abroad. This included delegates from Saudi Arabia, UAE, Korea, Bahrain, Mexico, Kuwait, Turkey, Miami, US, Austria, Australia.

The Canadian and Australian trade delegations made presentations on the possibilities of establishing business relationships between entrepreneurs from their respective countries and businessmen in Kerala. The Royal Embassy of Netherlands conducted an exclusive session on doing business with Netherlands. The delegation from Netherlands was lead by its Ambassador in India, Mr E.F.C Niehe.

Food, processed food and spices topped with 69 participants out of the 310 sellers. Rubber and moulded plastics and ayurveda, herbal and pharmaceuticals with 46 and 43 respectively came second and third. Handloom and handicrafts had attracted 27 and 22 sellers respectively.

Machinery, electrical and electronics received 23 and 20.

The concluding day also witnessed sectoral presentations on rubber and moulded products, wood based products, electrical and electronics, chemicals, ayurveda, herbal and pharmaceuticals.

The three-day event also witnessed a sectoral presentations on the 10 selected manufacturing sector which included coir, handloom, handicrafts, processed food and spices, machinery, rubber and moulded plastics etc.

Canara Bank, State Bank of Travancore, Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) and Kerala Financial Corporation also made presentations on their various schemes applicable to the small and medium enterprises.