Second edition of UP International Fair begins today in Greater Noida

The trade fair, jointly organised by the Uttar Pradesh government and India Exposition Mart Limited (IEML), will run till September 29 and will showcase a wide range of trade and cultural exhibitions with special emphasis on the local industry of Uttar Pradesh, officials said, adding that Vietnam has been singled out as the partner country for this year’s edition.

Addressing a pre-event press conference at India Expo Mart in Greater Noida on Tuesday, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Minister Rakesh Sachan said this year’s trade fair has fared much better than last year’s.

“UPITS has become a symbol of UP’s economic growth. This year, we expect 500,000 visitors and 2,000 exhibitors to showcase their products. So far, around 350 buyers from 70 countries have registered. We expect the number to surpass last year’s,” Sachan said.

“Last year, 300,000 people took part in the event, which generated a turnover of ₹ 6,000 crore. This year, we are optimistic about exceeding both the footfall and revenue,” said Sachan.

The minister also highlighted the importance of the one district one product (ODOP) initiative, predicting greater success and more international orders. Urging the public, especially those in the National Capital Region (NCR), to visit the expo, he said the event would go a long way in achieving the state’s goal of becoming a $1 trillion economy.

“We are confident that UPITS 2024 will surpass last year’s success, both in terms of footfall and business transactions. The ODOP initiative will gain greater visibility and international orders this time. I urge people, especially those from NCR, to come in large numbers,” Sachan said.

According to Rakesh Kumar, chairman, IEML, UPITS 2024 is expected to attract 100,000 B2B and 350,000 B2C visitors from 80 countries. The focus sectors for this year’s event include agriculture, e-commerce, electronics, fisheries, handlooms, textiles, horticulture, leather, ODOP, retail, sports, tourism, toys, SMEs and Khadi, he said.

A fashion show will be organised at the main hall of India Expo Mart on September 27 and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal will attend the event on September 28.

Undoubtedly, during UPITS 2024, 15 halls at India Expo Mart will be dedicated to showcasing diverse sectors and events from Uttar Pradesh.

In addition, a number of cultural and entertainment events have been planned to make the guests’ visit to UPITS 2024 more attractive.

Highlights include live performances that celebrate UP’s vibrant cultural heritage, including a special Khadi Fashion Show showcasing traditional crafts. A spectacular laser show and several knowledge sessions will further enhance the event, officials said on Tuesday.

A diverse range of food stalls will offer visitors a culinary experience that will highlight the flavours of Uttar Pradesh. The menu will feature traditional dishes like ‘Kanpur’s chaat’, ‘Lucknow’s Tunday kebabs’, ‘Agra’s petha’ and ‘Banaras’s paan’.

To ensure smooth flow of traffic, a free shuttle service will be running from Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan (Jor Bagh Metro), Botanical Garden Metro and Pari Chowk to the venue. Also, a medical stand will be set up on the ground floor of India Expo Mart to assist visitors.

“We have put in place comprehensive arrangements to ensure hassle-free travel and parking. Traffic police will be deployed to ensure smooth flow and shuttle services will further facilitate the experience for visitors,” said District Magistrate Manish Kumar Verma.

Officials said admission to the event will be free, and meetings will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for business representatives and from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. for the general public.