Monday June 1, 2009
A shopping, tourism and cultural fest
By NITHA SUBRAMANIAM
Photo courtesy of MAICOM
ENCOURAGED by the nearly 500,000 visitors who turned up at the Global Indian Festival last year, the event organisers aim to attract even more visitors to this year’s edition despite the economic downturn.
The 7th Global Indian Festival 2009 (GIF’09), which opened at the Mid Valley Exhibition Centre on Friday, will run until June 7.
A taste of Indian culture: Astana Dancers performing at the launch of the Global Indian Festival 2009 at the Hilton PJ on May 20. Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk S.K. Devamany, who launched the festival on May 20 said, “Malaysia has an important role to play in the international business environment as Asia, especially India, China and the Middle East, is the focal point of economy and consumerism in the world.”
He added that Malaysians should give the economy a boost, and not be too afraid to spend.
Shopaholics can rejoice as this year, there are about 230 booths selling a range of products that include handicraft, bedding items, bridal wear, textiles, jewellery, kitchenware, home décor items and carpets.
There will also be health and beauty products from various parts of India like Kashmir, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Calcutta, Maharashtra, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Gujerat, Kerala and Delhi.
GIF’09 has truly come a long way since the festival kicked off in 2003 with 24 booths.
Apart from the shopping festival, the GIF’09 is also showcasing a tourism and cultural festival that includes a fashion show, dance competition, kids’ colouring contest and weddings.
The Ketti Melam Kalyanam wedding event, which is being held for the fourth time, will feature three couples tying the knot in a colourful traditional South Indian ceremony.
This year also marks the launch of the first Global Indian Business Conference, which is being held today at Cititel Hotel, to discuss issues on how to further strengthen and increase business ties between traders from India and Malaysia, focusing on networking opportunities throughout Asia and making Malaysia the trading hub of choice.
Backed by Tourism Malaysia, the GIF’09 will also be the stopover point for tourists visiting Malaysia at this time, to give them a taste of what the many states of India offer and to highlight the availability of the products in Malaysia.
In the wake of the success of Oscar-winning Slumdog Millionaire, there is an increased curiosity on all things Indian and what better place to source for them than at the GIF’09.
So, if you are keen to get an Indian suit like the one Freida Pinto wears in the film, or want to check out the latest kurta designs, make your way to the shopping festival.
Source:
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