Batterjee described the event as one more step toward further cementing the strong bilateral ties and said the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the JCCI always welcomed such events. "Through such catalog and product shows, our local business community comes to know the kind of products and services on offer from our overseas counterparts," he said.
Both Japanese Consul General Toshimitsu Ishigure and Korean Consul General Han Dal-jun, who were among the special invitees, described the range of catalogs and products as impressive.
"While sectoral expositions will be held from time to time, we will stage a solo trade show later this year," Indian Consul General Sayeed Ahmed Baba said. This apart, there will be regular interactions with the local business community to acquaint them with the wide range of products and services India's manufacturers and businessmen offer.
The Indian diplomatic mission's commercial sections have been helping and assisting Saudi businessmen in particular whenever they wanted information on Indian companies and their products and services. "Also, we have maintained a liberal stance in processing the business visas in particular to help our Saudi friends visit India and see for themselves all that the country offers," he added.
While this is a major catalogue show as it also showcases products, India has been organizing its catalog shows in various parts of the Kingdom annually. It staged catalog shows in Tabuk and Jazan in 2008 and a few more in other parts of the Kingdom last year.
He described the catalog-cum-product show as a mega event as its showcases the catalogs of 300 of Indian companies, with a few of them displaying their products. The companies offer a wide variety of products and services including water technology solutions, seawater desalination processes, multi activity play stations, finished leather and leather accessories, spices and beauty products. Products on display include a variety of leather cases from a tanning establishment, oils and creams from Dabur, and readymade dresses and textiles.
Indian Tourism Board, in association with Air India, has also displayed its brochures on "Incredible India" as a destination for Saudi families. They include the "golden triangle" that includes Delhi, Agra (Taj Mahal) and Jaipur (Pink City), and hill stations as the "Great summer escape".
