New Year is round the corner. So is hope for industry that is expecting better tidings from the current rough shod that the economy is riding. Four major trade fairs are scheduled to take place across the country in January 2012 - IMTEX in Bangalore, Auto Expo in New Delhi, ELECRAMA in Mumbai, and INTEC in Coimbatore. While the first three shows are heavyweights and are specialised shows on the respective sectors of industry, INTEC offers a homogenous mix of industry segments and has held its own place with the staging of 12 successful editions in the past. The thirteenth edition is scheduled from January 4-9, 2012 at the CODISSIA Trade Fair Complex even as INTEC is gaining prominence in the international map of trade fairs.

INTEC Down the Years

It all began with Endex, an event conducted in the year 1982 by CODISSIA for the development of entrepreneurial skills among the local enterprising people of Coimbatore. Those were the days when people from South India had to travel to Delhi or Mumbai to visit an industrial exhibition, as there were no such events happening here then. Realising the importance of trade fairs and their role in the development of the economy, CODISSIA decided to take the lead and conducted the 1st Industrial Trade Fair in the name INTEC 1988. This fair was conducted at PSG Grounds, Coimbatore with 300 stalls.

The major achievement of the fair was that new entrepreneurs started getting valuable inputs from exhibitors. Many Small Scale Industries took part in this fair and the Industrialists base of Coimbatore expanded after the 1st Fair. The success of INTEC 88 made CODISSIA conduct the event once in 4 years and this continued till 2000. Following demand from the industry the organisers decided to conduct the fair more frequently and had another six editions in a span of eight years. The previous edition of INTEC generated business to a tune of around Rs 3500 million. Thus the INTEC series of trade fairs has grown in size and gained admiration from the market leaders over the years, for bringing together the prime, major and the very best in technological innovations under one roof.

Organised by CODISSIA (Coimbatore District Small Industries Association), an ISO 9001:2000 organisation, INTEC is approved by ITPO (India Trade Promotion Organisation) and is supported by the Central & State Governments. With wide global participation, it is an ideal platform to launch new products, invite enquiries, and generate potential leads across the globe. Real-time demonstration of machines in operation, backed by 2500 KW of power in a hall area sprawled over 3 lakh sq.ft, thereby creating an industry-like ambience at the venue. Besides enabling product display and demo, the fair is a fine opportunity for knowledge-sharing through summits and seminars on raging topics of industrial interest. The Trade Fair complex, one of the country's largest, is also the country's largest pillar-free hall, according to the Limca Book of Records.

CODISSIA

CODISSIA - The Coimbatore District Small Industries Association is the force behind INTEC. An ISO 9001:2000 organisation with 5269 members and four decades of experience, it is the one and only District Level Association in the whole of India to have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with (VDMA) Plant and Machinery Manufacturers Association/Bavarian Section of West Germany. Through this, it proposes to work consistently in assisting the members to identify new technologies/promote joint ventures, technology transfers, sending trade delegations, etc., to foreign countries. CODISSIA is also renowned for having the maximum number of MoUs with educational institutions.

Why Coimbatore?

Situated on the banks of the Noyyal River in western Tamil Nadu and surrounded by the Western Ghats on all sides, Coimbatore is well connected by road, rail and air with major towns and cities in India. It is an important textile and manufacturing hub of Tamil Nadu, and ranks among the top cities for business investment. Further it enjoys a pleasant climate all year round, with proximity to hill stations like Ooty and Kodaikanal. All the more reason for one to undertake a business-cum-holiday trip to INTEC.

(For further information contact: The Chairman, INTEC 2012, C/O, CODISSIA, Coimbatore. Tel: 0422-2221582, 2222409, 2221052. Fax: 91-422-2222131. Email: intec@codissia.com)