India Trade Promotion Organization

India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO)

Type	State-owned enterprise Public company
Industry	Trading & Marketing Services
Founded	1 April 1977[1]
Headquarters	Pragati Bhawan, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi
Key people	Reeta Menon, IAS (Chairman & MD) Malay Shrivastava, IAS (ED)[2]
Revenue	3737.9 million (US$59 million) (2011-12)[3] 3336.4 million (US$53 million) (2012-13)[4] 3518.6 million (US$56 million) (2013-14)[5]
Net income	1830.3 million (US$29 million) (2011–12)[6] 1522.9 million (US$24 million) (2012–13)[7] 1800.1 million (US$29 million) (2013-14)[8]
Number of employees	1005 (2013)[9]
Slogan	Promoting 'India' Brand Globally; Providing a Global Edge
Website	www.indiatradefair.com

India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO), headquartered at Pragati Maidan, is the nodal agency of the Government of India under aegis of Ministry of Commerce and Industry (India) for promoting country's external trade. ITPO is a Schedule-B Miniratna Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE)^[10] with 100 percent shareholding of Government of India.

ITPO is going to organize 34th India International Trade Fair (IITF) 2014, at its known location Pragati Maidan during 14–27 November 2014, with “Women Entrepreneurs” theme. The charges for entry on Business days is kept at Rs.400 and for general days as Rs.50.^[11]

The government could also ride the booming market in FY2014-15 to bring profit-making unlisted companies such as ITPO, along with Cochin Shipyard & NEEPCO to the stock market through disinvestment.^[12]

Karnataka Exhibition Authority (KEA) is in early discussions with ITPO to set up Pragati Haat in every district headquarters and one near Bangalore similar to that of Delhi’s Pragati Maidan. KEA has sought 20 acres of land in each district and 70 acres of land near Bangalore for the purpose.^[13]

History

India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) was incorporated by merger of Trade Development Authority (TDA), a Registered Society under the administrative control of the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, with Trade Fair Authority of India (TFAI) with effect from 1 January 1992. TFAI was earlier incorporated, under Section 25 of the Indian Companies Act, 1956, on 30 December 1976 by amalgamating 3 organizations of the Government of India viz. India International Trade Fair Organization, Directorate of Exhibitions and Commercial Publicity and Indian Council of Trade Fairs and Exhibitions and commenced operations with effect from 1 March 1977.^[14] ITPO, during its existence of more than 3 decades has played a proactive role in catalysing trade, investment and technology transfer processes. Its promotional tools include organizing of fairs and exhibitions in India and abroad, Buyer-Seller Meets, Contact Promotion Programmes, Product Promotion Programmes, Promotion through Overseas Department Stores, Market Surveys and Information Dissemination.^[15]

The world renowned Hall of Nations, Hall of Industries and Nehru Pavilion in Pragati Maidan was designed by iconic architect Raj Rewal along with architect Kuldip Singh in 1971-72. Later on Hall of States were designed by architect Raj Rewal in 1981-82. Other iconic structures than surround Pragati Maidan are National Science Centre, Delhi near Gate No.1 of Pragati Maidan designed by architects Achyut Kanvinde and Hindustan Lever Pavilion by architect Charles Correa in 1961.

(International Convention Centre).^[16] DDA has also allowed construction of hotel at Pragati Maidan complex along with International Convention Centre. Plans to modernise Pragati Maidan had been floated by ITPO some years ago, the revamp hit a glitch. However, ITPO has once again started planning & liasoning for redevelopment of Pragati Maidan in late 2012 by appointing Advisor-cum-Project Management Consultants (APMC). The proposal is pending for Cabinet Committee for Economic Affairs (CCEA) approval as on April-2014.^[17]

Ministry of Home Affairs has recently given in-principle approval for deploying Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) to provide round-the-clock security at the Pragati Maidan. A special vehicle-borne and sophisticated arms equipped squad of the force will be deployed at Pragati Maidan complex to respond to any terror attack like situation. Access control to the exhibitions area will be monitored by another team of the squad with help from private security guards.^[18]

Sphere of Activities

ITPO has been managing the Pragati Maidan exhibition complex in New Delhi, which is spread over an area of 123.5 acres and has established it as a renowned destination for holding exhibitions, conventions, seminars, business meets and other trade promotion activities. The existing infrastructure of Pragati Maidan includes more than 16 exhibitions halls of about 65,000 sq.m. out of which 40,000 sq.m. is air-conditioned space. It also consists of additional open space of 32,000 sq.m., a modern air conditioned food plaza with seating capacity for 500 plus persons, open and covered auditoriums with a combined capacity for 5500 and 1000 persons respectively, lounge areas, business centre facilities, etc. The existing facilities are being used by various Ministries/Departments of Government of India, State Governments and Industry to present their policies, initiatives and achievements by supporting/holding exhibitions, conventions and other trade related events.

ITPO has an extensive infrastructure as well as marketing and information facilities that are availed by both exporters and importers. ITPO's overseas offices assist buyers seeking information relating to sourcing products from India. ITPO had had overseas offices at New York, Frankfurt, Tokyo, Moscow and São Paulo for pursuing opportunities for enhancement of India's trade and investment. However, all overseas offices are now closed by ITPO. ITPO has four Regional Offices at Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata and Mumbai. The Regional Offices, through their respective profile of activities, ensure a concerted and well coordinated trade promotion drive throughout the country.

The Main Activities & Services of ITPO are:^[19]

• Managing the extensive trade fair complex, Pragati Maidan in the heart of Delhi

• Organising various trade fairs and exhibitions at its exhibition complex in Pragati Maidan and other centers in India.

• Facilitating the use of Pragati Maidan for holding of trade fairs and exhibitions by other fair organisers both from India and abroad.

• Timely and efficient services to overseas buyers in vendor identification, drawing itineraries, fixing appointments and even accompanying them where required.

• Establishing durable contacts between Indian suppliers and overseas buyers.

• Assisting Indian companies in product development and adaptation to meet buyers' requirements.

• Organising Buyer-Seller Meets and other exclusive India shows with a view to bringing buyers and sellers together.

• Organising India Promotions with Department Stores and Mail Order Houses abroad.

• Participating in overseas trade fairs and exhibitions.

• Arranging product displays for visiting overseas buyers.

• Organising seminars/conferences/workshops on trade-related subjects.

• Encouraging small and medium scale units in export promotion efforts.

• Conducting in-house and need-based research on trade and export promotion.

• Enlisting the involvement and support of the State Governments in India for promotion of India's foreign trade.

• Trade information services through electronic accessibility at Business Information Centre.

Subsidiaries

ITPO has two subsidiaries namely Karnataka Trade Promotion Organisation (KTPO)^[20] and Tamil Nadu Trade Promotion Organisation (TNTPO)^[21] with share holding of 51% in each of them. With the commissioning of the state-of-the-art Chennai Trade Centre (CTC) in January 2001 and the Trade Centre Bangalore in September 2004, ITPO has successfully completed the first phase of the setting-up of modern exhibition facilities outside Delhi. The Chennai Trade Centre, which is now spread across 14,000 sqm, is planned to be expanded by addition of 6,000 sqm and ITPO is seeking approval from the board of the Tamil Nadu Trade Promotion Organisation for the same.^[22]

ITPO also coordinated the construction of exhibition-cum-trade complex 'Maniram Dewan Trade Centre' for Assam Trade Promotion Organisation^[23] at Sarusajai, Guwahati under 'Assistance to Sates for Developing Export Infrastructure and Allied Activities (ASIDE)'^[24] Scheme, for facilitating trade in North-Eastern States. The Industry and Commerce Department of Assam in association with ITPO developed the project spread over an area of 10 acres. Under Phase-I of development, Maniram Dewan Trade Centre consists of 3 fully air-conditioned halls of 800 sq.m. each, entrance lobby and plaza and mini convention-cum-conference room.

ITPO has a 50:50 Joint subsidiary with National Informatics Centre (NIC) in the form of ‘National Centre for Trade Information’ (NCTI) in 1995 for collection and dissemination of trade data and improving Business Information Services to the business community, especially SME.^[25]

ITPO is also helping Pimpri Chinchwad New Town Development Authority (PCNTDA), whose officials visited Pragati Maidan in September-2013, in setting up the proposed Pune International Exhibition and Convention Centre at Moshi (Pimpri-Chinchwad).^[26]

International Trade and Convention Centre Kerala, the joint venture project of Indian Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) and Kerala Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Kinfra) at 25 acres of land in the Kinfra Export Promotion Industrial Park in Kakkanad. The project would require investment of Rs.1125 million, of which 31.25 crore each will be provided by the central and state governments and the remaining Rs 50 crore will be mobilised via credit.

The state government granted an in-principle approval for the project in 2012, but owing to the non-availability of funds it got delayed. The master plan is expected to be ready by June and the project is expected to be completed by March 2017.^[27]

Strategic Issues

ITPO is operating a trade portal www.tradeportalofindia.com having all trade related information including country profiles, product profiles, trade directory etc. ITPO is networking with International Organisation in the field of Trade and Commerce through membership or collaborative arrangements such as Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), ITPO is a founder member of Asia Trade Promotion Forum (ATPF) and participates in its Annual meets regularly.

National Productivity Council (NPC), New Delhi awarded a consultancy project to ITPO to prepare Detailed Project Report (DPR) for organizing Eco-Product International Fair (EPIF) at Pragati Maidan. The DPR contained an overview of eco-friendly fair in Asia, drill for organizing EPIF, monitoring of important activities of EPIF, budget estimates, revenue generation and details of MoU between ITPO and NPC.^[28]

A MoU was signed between ITPO and Qatar Tourism Authority of the State of Qatar in April 2012 for cooperation in holding the exhibitions. The MoU aims to strengthen the bilateral relations between the two countries through developing the means of cooperation in the field of organising exhibitions based on the mutual interests of their respective countries. Both of the organisations have agreed to forge long-term cooperation in planning, developing and training, marketing and promotion and encourage the organisation of holding reciprocal exhibitions.^[29]

ITPO signed MoU with Department of Science & Technology (DST), in September 2012 for holding National Level Exhibition and Project Competitions (NLEPCs) under the Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research ( INSPIRE) scheme.^[30]

In order to facilitate bilateral ties, ITPO has signed MoU with the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP). The MoU would cover exchange of information relating to business activities, conduct market research, implementation of bilateral trade promotion activities and organise training programmes plus exchange of experts. After signing MoU between TDAP and ITPO, along with FICCI have held a successful “India Show” in February 2012 at Expo Centre, Lahore. 2012. Under the MoU, Lifestyle Pakistan 2012 show was hosted in New Delhi in April 2012 and TDAP was to participate in five ITPO organised fairs in 2012-13.^[31]

To facilitate Indian Industry and to bring synergy, ITPO has signed MoU with various Chambers of India. ITPO signed MoU with Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) to collaborate on trade promotion. The MOU is directed towards coordinated joint efforts to promote India's trade identifying the internal strengths of the respective organisations. The MOU signifies an effort towards attaining synergy through harnessing the strengths of both ITPO and FICCI, both of whom are engaged in the promotion and enhancement of Indian trade.^[32]

ITPO also signed MoU with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in April 2011, directed towards a collective and well-directed effort to promote India's trade identifying the internal strengths of the respective organisations. The MOU provides for mutual cooperation in the areas of knowledge-based services, market studies, organising seminars and workshops, mobilising participation for trade fairs, organising presentation meetings, popularising the new Regional Trade Promotion Centres and events in various States of India. To implement the MOU, a Steering Committee is being constituted consisting of nominees from ITPO and CII. To mark the beginning of these collaborative efforts, CII and ITPO decided to jointly hold an exclusive Indian exhibition in September 2012 at São Paulo (Brazil).^[33]

ITPO signed MoU with National Book Trust, India for conducting New Delhi World Book Fair every year, starting from February 2013.^[34] This replaced the existing once-in-two-years World Book Fair.

In its bid to provide an added boost to the gem and jewellery industry, ITPO signed an MOU with the Gems & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) to launch the first India Gems & Jewellery Fair (IGJF) in April 2013 at the Pragati Maidan.^[35]

ITPO participated in 18th Addis Abeba Chamber of Commerce & Sectoral Association (AACCSA) International Trade Fair held at Addis Abeba Exhibition Center and Market Development Enterprise (AACMDE). ITPO attended the 17th edition of the fair with 44 companies, the largest international contingent in the fair. Currently, close to 450 Indian companies have investment licences in Ethiopia, with a combined investment capital of five billion dollars, according to data from AACCSA.^[36]

ITPO went into agreement with Ministry of Rural Development for organizing Aajeevika Divas 2013.^[37] Similar agreement was done with Department of Disability Affairs for organizing Swavlamban 2013, a four-day National Fair on Aid & Assistive Devices.^[38]

ITPO also signed MoU with Visvesvaraya Industrial Trade Centre (VITC), Karnataka in May 2013 with the objective of co-operating with each other to carry forward the objectives of their respective organizations for mutual benefit and achievement of common goals of promoting the industry and exports from the region. The areas covered under the MoU are to Exchange information on each other’s area of activities, identify potential products markets and introduce to each other opportunities for cooperation and partners for investment and trade, cooperate in organizing and participate in trade promotion activities, both within and outside India. interact periodically to formulate strategies to enhance trade and exports and review the progress achieved and provide each other with consultancy services within their scope of business service.

In 2013, ITPO has commissioned the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIM-A) to construct a Business Confidence Index and a Consumer Confidence Index using data from ITPO’s exhibitions.^[39]

In order to create awareness about the Wellness Tourism products of the country, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) partnered with Kosmetika 2014 organised by ITPO in New Delhi.

Financials

ITPO continued performing handsomely and registered a steep increase in total income to ₹ 3740 million in FY 2011-12 from about ₹ 3050 million in FY 2010-11. The net profit of the company skyrocketed to ₹ 1830 million in FY 2011-12, an impressive increase of about 160 percent over previous year profit of about ₹ 780 million. The company is having Total Assets exceeding ₹ 11 billion and about 1000 employees. The Company is registered under Section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956 and so does not declare any dividend.

In the MoU signed by ITPO with Department of Commerce for FY 2014-15, financial target for Gross Sales has been fixed at Rs 2430 million and Net Surplus at Rs 1450 million. ITPO has already achieved excellent MOU rating for the year 2011-12, 2012–13 and would most probably be achieving excellent rating for the year 2013-14 also.

Logo

ITPO logo was designed by eminent Graphic Designer Benoy Sarkar in 1974 for the erstwhile Trade Fair Authority of India. The logo has an interesting depiction of letters T (Trade) and F (Fair). The tone is a fusion of preservation of traditions of Trade and Investments along with modern identity of ITPO. The logo has a universal form. It signifies an authority of India exercising trade through fairs and exhibitions in India and abroad.^[40]

The emblem has been derived from an inscription on a gold coin belonging to the era of the ancient ruler, Samundragupta( circa 330-380 A.D.) symbolising the zenith achieved in external trade.The vertical and horizontal strokes in the symbol represent life and prosperity.^[41]

Pictures of Halls & Events of ITPO

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  View from entry of Hall-18, Pragati Maidan

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  A stall at Pragati Maidan

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  Gujarat Pavilion at IITF 2012

• 

  Model of West Bengal Pavilion in IITF 2012

• 

  Stage for INSPIRE 2012, held at Pragati Maidan

• 

  A mural in an art show at Pragati Maidan in United Art Fair 2012

References