Baghdad will be in Delhi at this year’s 14-day-long India International Trade Fair (IITF) starting tomorrow. Iraq debuts as a participating country in the Fair. The IITF held annually in Pragati Maidan, will also see first-time participation from Nigeria while other participating countries are Pakistan, Afghanistan, Denmark, South Korea, Vietnam and many more.
Through the Fair, the city will get a look at goods that are famous from these countries. But even as IITF promises international delights, the star attraction has to be from India. Space Odyssey, a special pavallion that will showcase the technological success of India, is expected to lure crowds.
For some Delhiites the IITF is the perfect place for shopping and tasting regional delicacies. The cuisines on offer are the most sought after, be it the goshtaba at Jammu and Kashmir pavallion or Hyderabadi Biryani at the Andhra pavilion. Meghna Kapoor from Rajouri Garden, says, “I brave the crowd and go to the Fair to have fish rolls from Bengal Pavillion and appam and fish at Kerala pavillion.” Though the fair will be open to business representatives and media from tomorrow, the rest of the crowd will only be able to walk in post November 18.
The Fair also has garment boutique owners excited. It’s the perfect time for them to stock dress materials from different countries. Shipra Puri, who runs a boutique in Gurgaon, says, “I buy suit materials from the Pakistan pavillion every year. But I hope to get some unique materials from the Taiwan pavillion this time.” Some popular items of purchase at the IITF are shawls from North Eastern states, pomegranates from Afghan-istan, honey from Himachal Pradesh, Bhagalpuri silk from Bihar and pickles from Andhra Pradesh.
The Fair also has garment boutique owners excited. It’s the perfect time for them to stock dress materials from different countries. Shipra Puri, who runs a boutique in Gurgaon, says, “I buy suit materials from the Pakistan pavillion every year. But I hope to get some unique materials from the Taiwan pavillion this time.” Some popular items of purchase at the IITF are shawls from North Eastern states, pomegranates from Afghan-istan, honey from Himachal Pradesh, Bhagalpuri silk from Bihar and pickles from Andhra Pradesh.