“India-Pakistan relations would improve a lot with a boost in trade ties through fairs like the CII Chandigarh Fair,” emphasized H E Mr Jagannath Pahadia, Governor, Haryana, while inaugurating the 17th CII Chandigarh Fair, supported by National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC), amongst massive crowds at Parade Ground in Sector 17, Chandigarh.
“I complement CII for this initiative of getting the participation of four different states like Jharkhand, Rajasthan, West Bengal and Goa. This would give a fillip to the economy of these states. People of this region would get a glimpse of a variety of products, cuisines and cultures from different states and countries like Pakistan, Thailand and Afghanistan”, he added.
The 17th annual CII Chandigarh Fair opened on Wednesday at the Parade Ground in Sector 17 on a grand scale. With seven halls hosting 430+ stalls in 13 pavilions, the show is bigger and brighter than before. Outside the halls, Maruti Suzuki has its cars on display, while bike promotions and prizes to win bikes are also on by Taiwa Batteries. Huge crowds were seen participating to win the bikes -- if only you can fit a key in from the numerous keys available in a box, the bike is yours. At Infocomm pavilion, India’s smallest Tablet PC is selling at an unimaginable price of Rs 4,990; another slightly bigger one with 3D goggles is on sale for Rs 6,290.
As usual, there were huge crowds in the International Arcade with over 100 Pakistani stalls attracting women shoppers the most. With stalls, mostly from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Thailand, the pavilion showcased beautiful designer and cotton suits, handmade carpets, bags, purses, antique pieces, transparent decoration pieces made of Onyx stone.
Without doubt, it is ladies’ dresses – with their shimmer and sheen -- that are the rage in Pakistani stalls. They never fail to attract the local female population in large numbers. Other Pakistani specialities are footwear (both gents and ladies), ‘kadhai’ suits, packaged food items, artificial flowers, sarees, purses, bags, cutlery and crockery, time-pieces, pen-stands etc. Onyx stone vases at Eastern Art & Craft are available for Rs 10,000, while a giant Onyx fountain is on sale for Rs 50,000 (good for large houses with plenty of open space). Kashmiri handicrafts from Swat region of Pakistan are also on display. Thailand has five stalls with their special products – lampshades, decoration pieces, flowers, ladies’ purses, butterfly hairclips, keychains etc.
Essa Mohammed of Essa Creations from Afghanistan has visited Chandigarh five times earlier to participate in the CII fair. He brings along with him dry fruits, saffron, Spanish olive oil, and Basmati rice from Peshawar. A 5-kg Basmati rice bag will cost you Rs 450, down from its original price of Rs 650. A 5-litre Spanish olive oil bottle of Rs 2,250 is being sold for Rs 1,250.
In the States of India pavilion, a 116-stall strong contingent comes from West Bengal – the largest contingent from the states, 40 from Jharkhand, 10 from Rajasthan and 5 from Goa.
The Social Expo pavilion in Hall 6 has unique products made by NGOs, self help groups and women entrepreneurs like footwear, phulkari items, woodwork items etc, many of them financed by Nabard.