16TH INDIA INTERNATIONAL LEATHER FAIR 2001

The most important event for the Leather industry - the 16th India International Leather Fair 2001 was inaugurated by Chief Minister M Karunanidhi.

Conducted by the joint efforts of Indian Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) and Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO), the fair provided a platform for local leather manufacturers to showcase their products and interact with various foreign companies. The fair also helped Indian manufacturers in their technological upgradation as many equipment manufacturers are also exhibiting their products.

The fair attracted 380 exhibitors, of which 120 were foriegn companies from 26 countries; exhibiting all products related to the leather industry, like Machinery, Chemical Leather, Leather Garments, Finished Leather, Shoe Components, Accessories, Shoes, Leather unit soles, Shoe Uppers, Shoe Lasts, Leather Goods, Publications and Consultancy services. The Central Leather Reasearch Institute (CLRI) and Council of Leather Exports (CLE) organised seminars for promotion of leather industry.

The Chennai Trade Fair complex, which was the venue for the fair, was built at a cost of Rs 22 crore, across 25 acres. Built at an astonishing speed (completed in 200 days) by the Central Public Works Department (CPWD), the exhibition hall has international specifications and is fully air conditioned, with a total area of 7,000 square feet.

ACMEE 2000 - International Industrial Exhibition

The fourth International Industrial exhibition, ACMEE 2000, a global event approved by the Indian Trade Promotion Organisation, took place at Island Grounds. The acronym ACMEE, is derived from the participating industries - Automobiles and allied services, Computers and peripherals, Machinery and Machine tools, Electrical equipment, Electronics and controls. This year, an additional pavilion on e-commerce was set up to represent the IT sector.

This Biennial event, organised jointly by Ambattur Industrial Estate Manufacturers Association (AIEMA) and AIEMA Technology centre, attracted the major players in Indian industry and also a number of foreign companies. It is believed that business amounting to Rs 20 crores will be generated from this exhibition.

Over 450 stalls were open at the exhibition, occupying over two lakh square feet. They were divided into various pavilions like the Machine Tools pavilion, Electronics pavilion, Automobile pavilion and E-Commerce pavilion. An auditorium, uninterrupted power supply, secretarial services, telephone, fax and public address systems were some of the facilities at ACMEE 2000.

The 6th International Heat Treatment Conference organised by the Indian Council of American Society of Metals, took place in the city for the first time, at the same venue. R&D professionals, metallurgists, heat treaters, manufacturing and maintenance engineers were among those who attended this conference.

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