Tomar inaugurates first ever ‘India International Cooperatives Trade Fair’

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : The first ever ‘India International Cooperatives Trade Fair’(IICTF) was inaugurated on October 11, 2019, by Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. The 3- day event will continue till October 13, 2019.

As 94% of total farmers in India are members of at least one cooperative institution, IICTF is aimed at furthering Prime Minister Narendra Modi led government’s vision and goal of doubling farmers’ income by promoting cooperative-to-cooperative trade within India and abroad and promoting exports of key agriculture commodities and products leading to enhanced rural and farm prosperity.

Addressing the gathering at the inaugural ceremony, Tomar said that an event of this scale has been organised by NCDC along with the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Ministry of Commerce. He said that it is the result of all their combined efforts that we have witnessed such wide participation not just from Indian cooperatives but also from International ones from 35 countries across the globe.

Tomar said that IICTF offers huge opportunity for the industry and business houses from India and abroad to build alliances, business networking, product sourcing, and above all interacting with the primary producers of a wide range of products and service providers. He said that this event will introduce Indian products to a wider Indian and International market and also provide an opportunity for participating countries to showcase their products in the Indian market.

The Union Agriculture Minister further said that this event is a historic occasion for discussing threadbare the challenges facing the Cooperatives across the nation. Citing the example of Amul , he said it is a cooperative which has succeeded in entering every home of the country.

In line with Government’s focus on programmes like Start-up India and Stand-up India aimed at young entrepreneurs with new and innovative ideas, National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) has formulated Yuva Sahakar ­Cooperative Enterprise Support and Innovation Scheme 2019 which was also launched at the fair. Sahakar Bharati, the single largest organisation focusing on enlightening masses about the benefit of cooperative movement, also showcased and launched their brand ‘Simplydesi’ which will provide good marketing and branding opportunities for cooperatives, according to a PIB release.