Vyapar 2017 Receives Enquiries Worth Rs 400 crore

KOCHI:
Business enquiries worth Rs 400 crore were received by small and medium scale manufacturers at the three-day Vyapar 2017, which concluded here on Saturday.
The meet, organized by the Department of Industries & Commerce at Kochi Bolgatty Palace for Small & Micro Enterprises (SMEs), witnessed more than 7,400 business interactions during the three days. As many as 437 buyers, including 80 international delegates, participated in the meet. Also, 334 business visitors registered on the spot.
“We selected the buyers through a stringent screening process after evaluating the laxities of the last two editions of the meet. We also imposed a security fee, which would be reimbursed, for the buyers to identify the genuine delegates,” said Director of Industries and Commerce P M Francis.
“For Vyapar 2017, we gave more emphasis to our neighbouring southern states,” he said, adding: “The number of foreign buyers increased in this edition of the event. The highest number of international delegates was from Japan.”
A total of 200 SMEs from across Kerala participated in the meet. Food processing sector, which had the largest representation, received the most number of enquiries.
Kerala Bureau of Industrial Promotion (K-BIP) is the nodal agency for this event.
“When compared to the last edition, we had much potential buyers on board for Vyapar 2017, ensuring good business to the sellers. We received an immense response from the buyers and sellers during registration as this was the third consecutive year of business-to-business meet,” said K-BIP CEO V Rajagopal.
Vyapar 2017 was organised in association with the Directorate of Industries and Commerce, Directorate of Handlooms and Textiles, Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation and Kerala Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation while FICCI was as the Trade & Industry Partner.
“As the state government had been hosting Vyapar 2017 for the past two years, the participating buyers and sellers were well-informed about the meet. The participants of the last editions had a good impression and they spread out to the community. The promotional activities held in Kolkata, Delhi and Hyderabad also got a good response with new buyers coming on board,” said Savio Mathew, Head of FICCI Kerala.