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Delhiites lap up trade fair goodies
The second last day of the 32nd India International Trade Fair at Pragati Maidan on Monday saw Delhiites making a final dash at shopping and buying “international” products at bargain prices.
The second last day of the 32nd India International Trade Fair at Pragati Maidan on Monday saw Delhiites making a final dash at shopping and buying “international” products at bargain prices.
According to an India Trade Promotion Official, around 1.20 lakh people visited Pragati Maidan on the penultimate day of the trade fair.
“This year, more people have started coming in the morning, increasing the footfall. Pragati Maidan has the capacity to accommodate around a lakh people. On the final day, too, we are expecting a similar number,” he said.
At Hall number 18, where most of the foreign participants have set up shop, there wasn’t even space to stand and look at products.
“It is difficult to even move around, leave alone shop, in this madness,” said Aditya Aggarwal, a businessman who had come with his family and couldn’t get a proper look at any of the stalls.
Others, however, went home happy. “I came at 11am to get myself a good deal on foreign goodies. Every year, we take home something foreign from the trade fair. This year it is a Chinese lamp for just R200,” Lalita Sharma, a homemaker from Amar Colony, said.
Families, friends, colleagues, acquaintances and even lone revellers made full use of their bargaining skills as they shuttled between China, Turkey, Afghanistan, Ghana and Thailand - all under one single roof.
At Hall 6 and 22, where the traders from Pakistan are stationed with their products — clothes, shoes, jewellery, spices, marble goods and melamine — the crowd gathering was arguably the most with visitors trying to get their hands on items from across the border.
According to Mavra Zaid, a boutique owner from Lahore, it’s the different products that the visitors are appreciating and therefore buying.
“People are loving our stuff and buying if it suits their budget,” Zaid, who employs rural Pakistani women in her workshops, said.
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