India will focus on China to promote exports in the communist country, but this year the response of Indian business to a trade fair there was lukewarm.
"We are focusing at China for participating in more trade fairs in the country. At present, India's exports are more focused at Europe and the US and the government wants to develop new markets. China is one important market," India Trade Promotion Organisation executive director Rajiv Yadav said in Kolkata on Wednesday.
Moreover, the balance of trade was not favourable for India. Two-third of the total bilateral trade was Chinese imports.
"We are targeting fairs like Canton Fair and in Shanghai among others. In the years to come participation in Chinese fairs would increase," Yadav said on the sidelines of a roadshow for the 2nd South Asian Countries Commodity Fair.
Yadav said so far only 30 participants have confirmed participation in the fair despite charges being low. Hundred stalls had been blocked by ITPO.
Out of the 30, participants from the east was high. The Engineering Export promotion Council alone had booked 12 stalls. The fair will be held between June 6-10.Participants seemed apprehensive on participating in the fair in the wake of economic slowdown unless China offered special incentives to boost import.
