Buyers from 46 countries registered for Vyapar 2017

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
Delegates from 46 countries including the US, China, UK and Japan have registered in the sixth edition of Kerala business-to-business meet, Vyapar 2017 organised by the Kerala Department of Industries from February 2 to 4 in Kochi.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the meet on February 2 at 10.30 am at Bolgatty Palace and Island Resort, Kochi. Minister for Industries and Commerce A.C. Moideen will preside over the inaugural ceremony.
“A total of 683 buyers have registered for participation. 160 buyers from foreign countries and 523 buyers from India have registered in the three-day event, which will open up new growth frontiers for Kerala’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs),” said A.C. Moideen, Minister (Industries). We expect more than 450 buyers to participate in the Event, he added.
As part of the promotional campaign of Vyapar 2017 and to disseminate the details of Vyapar 2017 among the foreign diplomatic community, a Foreign Diplomats Meet chaired by the Chief Minister, Kerala was organised at Federation House, New Delhi on November 15, 2016. Promotional Meets on Vyapar 2017 were also organised in association with FICCI at Hyderabad, Kolkata and Puducherry as a prelude to this major event of the Department of Industries & Commerce.

Vyapar 2017 provides a platform to the buyers for direct interactions and discussions with the participating manufacturers and sellers from Kerala. A team of 39 members from Japan will also be visiting the event.
“Around 7,000 business meetings are expected to happen during Vyapar 2017. The B2B meet will be a platform for SMEs to meet industry leaders and find prospective clients, increase the business volume and strengthen the state economy. It will also help them to explore potential markets abroad,” said P M Francis, Director, Industries and Commerce.
The Director also added that Vyapar will promote state’s excellence in entrepreneurship and skilled manpower among national and international players.
Out of the registered 331 sellers, 200 sellers were scrutinised and finalised by a team headed by Industries and Commerce Director, for participation. Sellers from various small scale industries including food processing, handlooms & textiles, rubber, coir products, Ayurveda & herbal, electrical & electronics as well as traditional industrial sectors have registered for the event. The list also includes state-run enterprises.
“The scheduled B2B meetings will begin at 2.30 pm on February 2 and will last until noon on February 4. Vyapar 2017 will also host a joint discussion forum for participating buyers and sellers after the scheduled meetings,” said Francis.
Only pre-registered buyers from outside Kerala will be allowed to participate in the B2B meetings on Februay 2nd and 3rd. Opportunity is also provided to existing and prospective entrepreneurs from Kerala to visit Vyapar 2017 on the final day i.e. February 4, 2017, till afternoon, through spot registrations (before 11.00 AM) at the venue.
The Directorate of Industries and Commerce will give away award for the best seller from the last two editions of the business-to-business meet, during the inaugural ceremony of Vyapar 2017.
Kerala Bureau of Industrial Promotion (K-BIP) is the nodal agency for this event, which is organised in association with the Directorate of Industries and Commerce, Directorate of Handlooms and Textiles, Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation, Kerala Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce Industry (FICCI) as the Trade & Industry Partner.