Kerala Shopping Fest expects big draw

Kochi, Oct 24 (UNI) More than one lakh organisations will participate in the ''Grand Kerala Shopping Festival-2007'' (GKSF), organised by the State Government, which is expected to garner a turnover of around Rs 250 crore.

Talking to newspersons here yesterday, Ernakulam District Collector Mohammed Hanish said the festival, from December one to January 15, would be held in all the 14 districts in the state to create demand for traditional Kerala artefacts and handicrafts like coir, handloom and ''arammula'' mirror.

''The festival, which has an advertisement budget of Rs 15 crore, is being vigorously marketed in India and abroad. Besides local customers, foreign tourists, NRIs, tourists from North India are expected at the festival,'' Mr Hanish said.

Merchant Establishments (MEs), who want to participate in the festival, should register with a fees of Rs 20,000, Rs 15,000 or Rs 5,000.

The organisations participating in the festival include trade and commercial oragnisations, traditional industries and ayurvedic resorts.

The festival would have night shopping facility with dance and music programmes and multi-ethnic food melas. Prizes worth Rs ten crore would be given to lucky customers at the end of the festival, he added.

UNI