200 cos to tap export opportunities at S'pore expo

New Delhi, Apr 6: Over 200 Indian companies spanning 15 economic sectors will participate in a five-day expo in Singapore to foster and leverage the export opportunities in the ASEAN region.

The event, Salaam India Expo, beginning August 15, is being organised by industry body Assocham in collaboration with ZAK Trade Fairs.

The companies are engaged in key sectors like engineering, auto components, oil and gas, biotechnology, real estate, agricultural products and processed food, software and IT, apparel and textiles, chem-pharma and finance.

Singapore Tourism Board and Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce will also support the event to bring ASEAN, particularly Singapore, very close to India, a statement said. Singapore, with presence of 7,000 MNCs and large enterprises with 23 regional headquarters, has become an ideal destination for exploring business opportunities. The country is also connected to 57 countries via 83 airlines with more than 37,000 hotel rooms, Singapore Tourism Board Director Catherine McNabb said.

Indo-ASEAN trade in 2004 was about 13.25 billion dollars and the region is the fifth most important trading partner of India.

The country's exports to the region include gems and jewellery, meat and meat preparations, cotton yarn, fabrics, engineering goods, transport equipment, machinery and instruments, electronic goods, marine products, drugs and pharmaceuticals and chemicals.

UNI