Festival of India Trade Fair successful

Sep 08, 2008 News

ALBION, CORENTYNE – The Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce was once again able to pull off a successful Festival of India Trade Fair.

Left to right: Treasurer of the Chamber, Tajpaul Adjodhea, PRO, Adrian Anamayah, President Bhigroog Poonai, Ajay Singh and Vinod Gupta

The event concluded last night (Sunday) at the Albion Sports Complex.
It was organized by the Chamber, in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, and was hosted from September 4th to 7th.

This is the second time that the Festival of India Trade Fair has been held in Berbice.
In 2005, it was also organized by the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce.
The event attracted thousands of persons from around Berbice.

It was able to satisfy the aim, which was to develop closer ties with the Indo-Global Chamber of Commerce.
President of the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce, Bhigroog Poonai, said that this year there were more local entities participating and the companies from India were larger in number, with more products.

The Berbice leg of the Festival of India Trade Fair was postponed in March, due to security reasons. The event was billed for the end of April at the Albion Sports Complex.

At that time, the organizers, during a meeting with security forces in Georgetown, were advised not to go ahead with the event in the light of what some referred to as a ‘crime wave.’

Mr. Poonai explained that proceeds garnered from this event would go towards community projects. The two projects identified are the Felix Austin Police Training College at Adventure and the Rose Hall Fire Station. Both are being spearheaded by the Chamber.

Indian national Mhommad Shueb, owner of the Nwor International Company of India, demonstrated his 7Max vegetable slicer, DM Ford chopper, tomato slicer, egg beater and dholl ghodin, all of which, he said, are popular in his homeland. His products, he said, are on display in Australia, Dubai, Singapore, Trinidad and Tobago, Malaysia, and other parts of the world.

Vinod Gupta, proprietor of the Shivam Enterprise, said that all members of his team are Indian nationals and are specialists. His exhibits included handcrafted furniture, male and female garments and footwear, and artificial jewellery, among others. His furniture is made of teak wood.

According to him, his presence at the trade fair was based on public demand.
Ajay Singh, a member of the Indo-Global Chamber of Commerce, said that 25 companies out of India participated. Among them were Nature Essence Private Limited, Lifestyles India, Mama International, Bheena Enterprise and Palak Exports.

He said that there were the finest Indian products, at affordable prices, on sale.
Four large containers of the exhibits left India in December and were to be on display in April, but there was the rescheduling.

The Indian delegation indicated an interest in returning in 2009.
The Festival of India Trade Fair featured rides and entertainment from the Melody Makers’ Band.