The first day of the much-anticipated AAHAR 2022 – India’s leading international food and hospitality exhibition at the redeveloped Pragati Maidan was disturbed by protests by some exhibitors and visitors on-site. The 36th edition of AAHAR, originally scheduled to run from April 26-30, 2022, is spread across a gross area of 70,000 sqm with around 1125 exhibitors.
Exhibition Showcase reached out to Mr. LC Goyal, CMD, ITPO to comment on the developments at the fair. In his response, Mr. Goyal assured that ITPO is committed to serve the interests of the participants and every effort is being made to address their concerns in a positive manner.
Excerpts from his statement:
“ITPO is a premier trade promotion organisation of the Government of India that has been organising trade fairs over the past 40 years. This is the 36th edition of AAHAR, ITPO’s flagship event, and ITPO has been putting its best endeavour to promote Aahar and to promote its reach to the farmer and the agricultural sector.
Today, on the first day of the Aahar, there were some logistical and service related issues, most notably a power failure of electricity. However, ITPO and the vendor agencies are taking action and resolving all of the exhibitors’ complaints. The participants’ demands were for a refund of today’s cost, which has been accepted.
ITPO has announced that if any participants request a refund for today, we will issue them a refund for the day. If they want to extend the fair, it has already been extended by one more day now, and if they want to close their stall, the entire amount will be refunded to the participants.
ITPO has been and will continue to support our exhibitors/participants. Furthermore, we are grateful to all of our exhibitors for their sincere participation, and ITPO remains committed to serve the interests of all stakeholders.”
Notably, the fair has started and visitors are meeting the exhibitors on the show floor.
