5th nat'l retail summit to focus on retail and real estate

Mumbai, Nov 27: With a focus on the evolving retail sector and the real estate which is the most critical aspect attached to it, CII is holding a two-day National Retail Summit for the fifth time in the city beginning November 29.

Briefing the media on the eve of the summit, chairman of the summit and Future Group CEO Kishore Biyani told media here today, ''While the focus of the inaugural day of the summit will entirely be on the retail sector and various isssues related to it, the concluding day would be devoted to the real estate. Some 300 delegates have already confirmed their participation for the summit so far''.

Some of the issues to be discussed during the inaugural day of the summit include ''Promoting consumption for economic growth'', ''Modern trade-Trends in emerging economy and some challenges with it'', ''Demand led or supply led- What should retail be''.

The total retail industry is worth Rs 18 trillion today and creating 14 lakh new opportunities every year.

''The organised retail sector is worth Rs 35,000 crore and is projected to grow by more than 30 per cent per annum for the next five years. The first session of the inaugural day will throw more light on this aspect'', said Mr Biyani.

Some of the key speakers that have approved their participation for the first day include Suman Berry (Director General, NCAER), Dorab Sopariwala (Business Analyst) and Devangshu Dutta (CEO, Third Eye).

The concluding day will discus ''Future of India's construction and real estate sector''. Union Minister for Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation Jaypal Reddy is likely to address on the day.

Some of the important speakers that would be addressing the concluding day of the summit include Y C Deveshwar (Chairman, ITC Ltd), Gautam Singhania (MD, Raymonds), Sunil Bharati Mittal (VP, CII) and others.

UNI