- Smart Fair for Smart Consumers- UT Adviser
- 400 + stalls in 15 concurrent shows showcase variety and quality
- Crowds pour in large numbers on 1st day itself
- Diwali shopping made easy, courtesy CII Chandigarh Fair
NewZNew (Chandigarh) : The 20th CII Chandigarh Fair, being organised by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), kicked off to a colourful start in Parade Ground, Sector 17, here today.
Inaugurated by Mr Vijay Kumar Dev, Adviser to the UT Administrator, with Ample Furniture Mall and Paradigm Group as the event sponsors; NABARD as the event co-sponsor; Religare Health Insurance as the Principal Sponsor; Gupta Builders and Promoters (GBP Group), IOCL as Associate Sponsors; Bittu Fashioners, Bajwa Developers, SBI, and SBOP as the Associate Co-Sponsors and supported by National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC), the four day fair attracted huge crowds on the first day itself.
“With changing times, the consumers have become a lot smarter and demanding and Fests like CII Chandigarh Fair are a fantastic platform for them. During my round of the fair, I was delighted to see beautiful handicrafts, consumer durables, Diwali gifts, home décor items, special antique collection, processed foods, kitchen appliances and swanky cars etc at the fair”, shared Mr Dev.
Calling it an instrumental effort, the adviser said that “ I appreciate CII for organising a fair that brings immense variety and top quality products from India and abroad, promoting entrepreneurship as well as consumerism, which will go a long way in boosting the overall economy of the region. giving entrepreneurs.
All pavilions attracted huge crowd right from the morning itself. The Social Expo pavilion, which has unique products made by NGOs, self-help groups and women entrepreneurs like footwear, phulkari pieces, woodwork items etc, many of them financed by NABARD caught the fancy of phenomenal crowds, especially the women right from the morning. Their fancy articles, utility items and decorative pieces made for special Diwali gifts.
“The States of India Pavilion witnessed huge crowds since the opening as well. Hundreds of artisans from Rajasthan, West Bengal, Goa and first timer Uttar Pradesh are showcasing their specialties in handicrafts, suits, sarees and other hosiery articles in addition to a variety of small and big interesting decoration and useful articles. The artisans from UP, participating for the first time were elated at the response their products got”, shared Mr Amarbir Singh, Chairman, CII Chandigarh Council.
The CII Auto Show 2015 featured launch of new hybrid vehicles by Maruti, Hyundai, Toyota, Nissan, Renault, and Honda. Honda 2 wheelers and Triumph bikes (priced at 17 – 25 lacs) launched their models with attractive offers which were a special hit.
Toyota showcased it’s new and trendy range of vehicles at CII auto show. Its vehicle display comprised the newly launched Fortuner TRD sportivo model and also the stylish, feature loaded new Liva LE.
As usual, the International Arcade was also jampacked too. Exclusive range of home appliances from Chicago, USA have also added spark to the fest, in addition to special quilts and blankets from Korea and carpets, handicrafts, utility items, home decoration furniture & furnishings, special dry fruits etc from UAE, and Thailand.
Thailand’s special lampshades, decoration pieces, flowers, ladies’ purses, butterfly hairclips, keychains etc really mesmerised the chandigarhians.
Around 15 companies from Pakistan are displaying their exclusive range of products ranging from designer garments to hand-woven carpets, handicrafts and onyx marble products, beautiful designer and cotton suits, handmade carpets, bags, purses, antique pieces, transparent decoration pieces made of Onyx stone and dry fruits etc.
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.
Daksh India, a new show emerged as a stupendous success as well. It is an exclusive show promoting the crafts of Rural India bringing in decorative items from Cottage Emporium & TRIFED for the first time.
Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH)’s 8 departments propagated healthy practices including LIVE demo of Yoga asanas and were busy whole day spreading awareness about AYUSH as an effective alternative medicine for the first time ever.
UCO Bank has launched a smart Kids Scheme which allows accounts for minors above 10 years of the age, Zero Balance account, 2 free cheque books per year, Personalised ATM card, Net Banking Facility, on the spot account opening.
UBI Mobile ATM is also available at the fair venue.
Giving details about the Fair, Mr Pikender Pal Singh, Regional Director, CII NR, shared that “The fair promises to be a true shopping platform for residents. It has always been CII’s endeavour to bring the best of products with latest technologies and variety to the residents under one roof. We aim to boost entrepreneurship and support the small players as well by providing them a platform to market and sell their products easily to the prospective buyers”.
“We have worked with NABARD and KVIC for the ‘Social Expo’ – a display for the small-scale entrepreneurs and artisans, NGOs, and Self Help Groups (SHGs) to give them a platform to sell their handmade articles. The Social Expo Pavilion will offer variety of products from NABARD and KVIC (Khadi and Village Industries Commission)”, added Mr Singh.
The fair runs from 10 am to 8 pm and is on till 9 November at Parade Ground, sector 17, Chandigarh.