Union Minister Piyush Goyal inaugurated the 45th edition of the India International Trade Fair at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, an event that the government is presenting as a showcase of Indian manufacturing and export potential. The fair is organised by the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) and this year features more than 3,500 exhibitors spread across 17 halls covering over 100,000 square metres.
The trade fair brings together a wide range of participants. Thirty-two States and Union Territories are taking part, and 51 Central ministries and public sector enterprises are involved. International pavilions from 11 countries are on display, including the United Arab Emirates, China and Thailand. Bangladesh and Sri Lanka also have pavilions of their own. Bihar, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh are participating as Partner States, while Assam, Delhi, Jharkhand and West Bengal are Focus States.
The fair's theme, Made in India, Ready for the World, points to the government's export ambitions. The target for FY27 is $1 trillion in exports. Goods and services exports reached about $480 billion in the first half of the financial year, which places the country roughly halfway to its annual goal by mid-year. Total exports stood at $863 billion in FY26. The notes do not specify how the second-half pace is expected to compare, and officials have not yet made clear whether the current momentum can carry the target to completion.
Startups have a prominent place in the programme. The Hall of Inspiration, Hall 14, features about 600 startups working in deep tech, agritech, drones, space, healthtech and edtech. Organisers said they intend to include more startups from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, extending the fair's reach beyond the largest metropolitan centres.
Traditional and small-scale producers are also given space. The One District One Product pavilion covers 21 States and showcases crafts, textiles, regional foods and heritage products. Micro, small and medium enterprises and artisans are displayed alongside large manufacturers across Halls 8 to 14, placing regional producers in the same exhibition space as bigger industrial players.
The fair is also tied to India's trade diplomacy. The government says its expanding network of Free Trade Agreements gives preferential access to economies accounting for about 75 per cent of global GDP. Ongoing negotiations are intended to diversify the country's export destinations, a step the government links to sustaining export growth.
Several questions remain open. Whether the first-half export pace can be sustained through the rest of FY27 to reach the $1 trillion target is yet to be seen. The outcomes of buyer meetings and partnerships arising from the fair have not been reported so far.
Source: organiser.org
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