CII to hold kids expo on Dec 22

Chennai, Oct 25: 'KideX 2006', a three-day educative, interactive and demonstrative exhibition exclusively for kids will be held from December 22 to 24 here.

Organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the 'first and India's only focused event for kids' would be packed with fun and entertainment, contests, educative programmes, quiz and games and other activities which children love and parents trust.

CII Southern Region Chairman P K Mohapatra and CII Head-Business Fairs J Immanuel Mahesh Kumar told reproters here today the exposition would showcase a wide range of products, technologies and services available for kids.

''KideX will also provide industry an opportunity to understand kids better and provide their customers an on-ground brand experience. The industry can use this business platform to network and create B2B linkages,'' they added.

KideX 2006, was expected to attract over 70,000 kids and parents.

The event would also feature a B2B conference titled ''Child is the Father of Man'' to deliberate on ways to develop ethical standards of marketing to kids and to develop market for kids.

Over 100 companies representing Nutrition and Food, Kids Apparel and Accessories, Toys, Games, Gizmos, Electronics, IT and Telecom, Financial and Insurance Services, Sports and Recreation, Crafts and Stationery and Travel and Tours were taking part in the event.

The highlight of the event will be the Grand Finale of Digital Art Festival 2006, a CII-NIIT joint initiative aimed at promoting creative art using technology by junior and sub junior kids.

This theme-based competition had attracted active participation from over 4,000 schools representing 22 states.

Mr Mohapatra said, ''We hope that the event will enable the future generation of the country to be competitive and competent. It will also promote inclusive growth.

The kids market today is worth more than Rs 20,000 crore distributed over sectors like Apparel, FMCGs, Gizmos, Media, Entertainment, Games, Toys, among others and is expected to grow at 25 per cent per annum,'' he said.

UNI