The 41st India International Trade Fair (IITF) was held from 14-27 November 2022 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, India. Kerala and Uttar Pradesh were the focus states for this year’s trade fair organised by the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO), the premier trade promotion agency of Government of India.
The trade expo was showcased by cooperative enterprises from the State of Kerala in terms of both numbers and diversity. It also had participation by cooperatives from Bihar, Delhi, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir along with cooperatives and cooperative agencies such as NCDC, NAFED, ULCCS, Bhuttico, etc.
The theme for IITF 2022 was 'Vocal for Local, Local to Global'. The Department of Cooperation, Kerala taking inspiration from the overall theme based their stalls on the concept ‘Kerala cooperatives: the voice of local.’
The Kerala contingent led by the State’s Registrar of Cooperatives generated significant footfall and response from visitors at their stalls. The commercial stalls of Kerala cooperatives received overwhelming interest from visitors and were prompted to bring in additional consignments of products due to the increased demand. Out of 32 commercial stalls from Kerala, 17 were by cooperative enterprises. The products include Pokkali Rice, Marayoor Jaggery, Coconut Oil, Pepper Powder, Cardamom, Coriander Powder, Turmeric Powder, Lemon Grass Oil, Payasam Mix, Unakkalari, Ginger Coffee, Roasted Coffee Beans and others.
Mr. Balu Iyer, Regional Director and Mr. Ganesh Gopal, Lead-Entrepreneurship Development, ICA-AP visited the stalls on the invitation of Mr. Alex Varghese IAS, Registrar of Cooperatives, Kerala (RCS-Kerala) and were accompanied by Mr. Vijayakumar, Public Relations Officer, Office of Registrar of Cooperative Societies – Kerala.
Cooperative entrepreneurs from the State also highlighted and suggested the need for a permanent, common centre for selling products in Delhi, since the national capital region (NCR) has become a major marketplace for the products of other states.
The Kerala pavilion won a gold medal in the State and Union Territory category for the best pavilion at the IITF 2022.
