The mega UP International Trade Show, which started at India Expo Center and Mart in Greater Noida yesterday, is making a global pitch.
Over 2,000 exhibitors are showcasing their products to entrepreneurs and visitors from India and abroad. Visitors from 70 countries are expected to converge during the five-day event at the venue apart from 70,000 institutional buyers.
The Trade Show, inaugurated by President Droupadi Murmu, will now be an annual affair.
Meanwhile, One District One Product (ODOP), which is a flagship scheme of the UP government to promote traditional industries and handicrafts, has evoked tremendous response from entrepreneurs.
Whether it is intricate engravings on Moradabad brass utensils or traditional wooden toys from Varanasi, cricket balls from Meerut or clay utensils from Azamgarh, they are attracting entrepreneurs from across the globe.
Exhibitors waxed eloquent on UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath’s governance acumen for leading the state towards composite socioeconomic development and speedy industrialisation.
They claimed the amount of work under the current Yogi regime, especially for the poor and people associated with traditional arts, was ‘unparalleled’ as no previous government had been able to do so.
They noted that with such international shows, local arts will be encouraged and opportunities will open up for artisans and micro entrepreneurs.
Moradabad artist Khub Singh Yadav, known for his intricate engravings on brass utensils, said events like these will promote traditional art. “The government is running skill development programs, which are helping with better packaging and marketing of products.”
Rameshwar Singh, who runs a stall of Banarasi wooden toys, was excited about participating in such a mega show.
Ever since wooden toys received the GI tag in 2014, the demand has increased in India and beyond with the earnings of artisans and entrepreneurs rising by 30 percent.
He claimed the easy loan schemes of the central and state governments was helping even small artisans to establish themselves as entrepreneurs.
Rita Prajapati from Azamgarh, who preserves the ancient art of making black clay utensils, said the Yogi government is taking commendable steps to keep traditional arts alive.
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Bijnor businessman Mohammad Matloob said compared to the previous government, the Yogi government is paying greater attention to promoting traditional arts.