The Hindu Business Line : Next Kerala B2B meet in Sept

THE Kerala Government, which organised a `business to business' meet for small and medium industries in the State last year, is planning to hold a similar meet on September 6-8 this year.

The meet in 2004 focused on promoting products in 10 key sectors, namely, coir, handicrafts, food and spices, herbal/ayurdeva/pharmaceuticals, chemicals, electrical and electronics, wood-based industries, rubber and plastics and machinery.

According to Mr V. Rajagopal, General Manager, Kerala Bureau of Industrial Promotion, the meet last year was a huge success in terms of participation and the number of trade enquiries it generated. There were 303 buyers at the meet, of whom 60 were from abroad representing 19 countries.

The meet generated a total of 2,859 trade enquiries, of which 93 orders have been firmed up and 772 proposals are currently in various stages of negotiations.

The products from the traditional sectors, especially coir, handlooms, food and spices and ayurveda, generated the maximum interest among the buying community. Mr Rajagopal said this year's event is being held on a much larger scale in as much as it will feature exhibition of the products in stalls to be allocated to individual sellers. Last year, the sellers, numbering 310, could be allotted only table space.

The meet this year will focus on eight key sectors of the State, instead of 10 in 2004. The sectors to be showcased are coir, handicrafts (including khadi and village industries), handloom, textiles and garments, processed food and spices, herbal/ayurveda/pharmaceuticals, construction materials, wood and interior decorations, rubber and rubber products and printing and packaging.

The meet is expected to see a line-up of 250-300 sellers from the State and attract 300 buyers, including nearly 100 from abroad.

Mr Rajagopal said the meet would enable the manufacturers of the State to have a first-hand knowledge of the market demands, emerging markets and the requirements in terms of quality standards.

Besides, it will open up long-term business opportunities for the State's industrial sector, especially for its ethnically unique products.

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