The first Odisha MSME International Trade Fair 2014 is all set to go underway at the Exhibition Ground here on January 1.
To be inaugurated by Governor SC Jamir, the seven-day trade fair will have over 270 stalls put up by not only MSMEs from across the country and abroad but also large industries like Rourkela Steel Plant, Mahanadi Coalfield Ltd, Nalco, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, Paradip Port Trust, Tata Steel, IOCL, Essel Mining and others. More than 40 renowned equipment manufacturing companies are also scheduled to take part along with a host of nationalised and private banks.
The objective is to provide a platform for entrepreneurship development in the State. Instead of going outside to get the know-how for setting up industries, new entrepreneurs of the State will get the opportunity to see the demonstration of the equipments which are used in the industries in the international trade fair, MSME Secretary Panchanan Dash said.
There will be seven information centres in the fair, where entrepreneurs can gather information on various aspects like funding, setting up industries and marketing. As many as 14 seminars on different topics will be held.
Delegates from countries like Republic of Malawi, Burkina Faso, Egypt, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Rwanda and Burundi have also been invited to participate in the trade fair, said Dash.