Published on 2012-02-29

Mr.Subash Kali, Executive officer of India Trade Promotion Organization (ITPO) came to Addis representing its organization engaged in promoting import and export trade at home and abroad. He is a trade officer for Indian companies that came to participate in the 16th Addis Chamber International Trade Fair (16th ACITF). Mr.Kali is has long years of expertise in trade fair management and exhibition and has organized various expos in various countries and has an immense expertise in the sector. Fekadu Abiye of the Addis Business spoke with Mr.Kali about Indian participation in Addis International trade fair, its derived benefits from the participation, future prospects of economic and trade partnership with Ethiopia.
How many Indian companies participated in the fair?
About 34 Indian companies representing multifaceted Indian products and services have participated in this international fair. All companies were from diverse fields; plastic promotion export council, ministry of micro and small enterprises, ministry of food processing industry, and private sectors comprising of laboratory equipments and technologies.
India has increasingly become famous for its technology, and what technology did you bring in the fair?
India as a whole is known in technological arena. The country is super power in IT, space and other upcoming technologies. We are number one in software computer. So we are supplying the technologies to almost all countries of the world. Thus, we want further share not only to Ethiopia but to other countries of Africa also.
In this trade fair we did not bring those companies but we brought one optical technology where we have displayed the laboratory equipments. Personally I have assessed and felt that in Ethiopia there exists a tremendous scope in the area of computer. There is a very upcoming and huge potential for IT sector and space technology .So we decided to bring the technologies in the coming international fair.
How many visitors come to your show?
About 10,000 visitors flocked to our products, which have shown keen interest to our products. Some ministry of food processing and others engaged in importing canned food have received very good inquiries. Overall we have derived lot of experience from participating here in this show.
Can explain, the experience you get from other countries stand in this international trade fair?
I really /like the way other stalls were also organized, particularly I am impressed by the Germans. As you know, they are number one country in the field of exhibitions. They organized a maximum number of fairs in the world. Here in this fair, they have brought their own system- well designed stall. So we have to learn a lot from them. Similarly Italians also made a very good stand. I am overwhelmed by the way they have participated themselves. Other countries like Indonesia and Djibouti have also made a good contribution. Besides
Historically, Ethiopia and India have sound bilateral relationships. What about their partnership in the area of trade shows?
In the years to come, I find that both of our countries will join together and will do put up various shows. I would like that Indo- Ethiopia chambers of commerce be closely associated with each other so that we may create common understanding. I invite Ethiopian business community to our popular India International trade fair which is held annually from November 14-27, 2013 organized by India trade promotion organization.
Any experience Ethiopia should get from India products?
We would like to share our experience in agriculture field. As you know Ethiopia and India are sailing in the same boat. Both are having agrarian societies and would like to make some industrialize nation. We would want that country like Ethiopia to come and grow in agriculture and other sector also.
Other things that you may want to add?
I am highly impressed by the courtesy, love and affection ever given to us by the people during our short stay in Ethiopia. We enjoyed very good culture .I wish that ITPO the organization which I represent, Addis Chamber and other trade bodies of this country join together to organize, share and participate in other fairs for further promotion of trade in its eternity.