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This year’s fair, to be inaugurated by Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday, brings together over 3,500 exhibitors across 17 halls spanning more than 1,00,000 square metres
A defining feature of IITF 2026 is how it bridges high-technology innovation with grassroots manufacturing. Representational image/ANI
As Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal inaugurates the 45th India International Trade Fair (IITF) at New Delhi’s Bharat Mandapam on Friday, India’s ambitious push towards a historic $1 trillion export milestone in FY27 is moving rapidly from target to reality. Having already clocked approximately $480 billion in combined goods and services shipments during the first half of the current fiscal year—nearly half of the annual goal—the government is positioning the flagship 14-day trade exhibition as a global launchpad for domestic manufacturers, rural artisans, and emerging startups.
Organised by the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) under the theme Vikas aur Virasat (Development and Heritage), this year’s fair brings together over 3,500 exhibitors across 17 halls spanning more than 1,00,000 square metres. With 32 states and union territories participating alongside 51 central ministries, public sector enterprises, and international pavilions from 11 countries—including the UAE, Thailand, China, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka—the event reflects India’s deepening integration into global supply chains.
From Deep-Tech Startups to District-Level Artisans
A defining feature of IITF 2026 is how it bridges high-technology innovation with grassroots manufacturing. Inside Hall 14, the dedicated Hall of Inspiration spotlights around 600 Indian startups operating across high-growth export verticals such as deep tech, agri-tech, drones, space, healthcare, and education technology, connecting young founders from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities directly with international buyers.
Simultaneously, the One District One Product (ODOP) Pavilion features 21 states showcasing indigenous crafts, regional cuisines, textiles, and heritage products. By giving micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and traditional artisans direct commercial visibility alongside major consumer electronics, footwear, processed food, and jewellery manufacturers across Halls 8 to 14, the exhibition turns local heritage into scalable global commerce.
Free Trade Agreements Fuelling Market Diversification
The momentum on the exhibition floor is backed by aggressive trade diplomacy. After recording total exports of $863 billion in FY26, India’s push to achieve a 16 per cent annual surge in FY27 is anchored by recently concluded and ongoing Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) that grant preferential market access across economies representing nearly 75 per cent of global GDP.
At A Glance
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal to inaugurate the 45th India International Trade Fair at New Delhi’s Bharat Mandapam.
India recorded approximately $480 billion in combined goods and services shipments during the first half of the current fiscal year.
The 14-day trade exhibition brings together over 3,500 exhibitors across 17 halls spanning more than 1,00,000 square metres.
The event features participation from 32 states and union territories, 51 central ministries, and international pavilions from 11 countries.
India recorded total exports of $863 billion in FY26 while pushing towards an export milestone in FY27.
As Bihar, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh lead as Partner States—joined by Focus States Assam, Delhi, Jharkhand, and West Bengal—IITF 2026 demonstrates that India’s export engine is no longer confined to traditional coastal hubs but is powered by diverse, district-level manufacturing across the country.
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Ask News18The 45th India International Trade Fair (IITF) is held under the theme ‘Vikas aur Virasat’ at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
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Pathikrit Sen Gupta is a Senior Associate Editor with News18.com and likes to cut a long story short. He writes sporadically on Politics, Sports, Global Affairs, Space, Entertainment, And Food. He tra…Read More
November 13, 2026, 04:38 IST
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