The government will take all steps necessary to involve the all types of traders, including small-scale traders, in the third edition of the Grand Kerala Shopping Festival to be held this year , GKSF General Convenor and Principal Secretary for Industries, T. Balakrishnan IAS, said in a press release here today. He said the government whole – heartedly welcomed the opinions put forward by the Kerala Vyapara Vyavasaya Samithi on the conduct of the Grand Kerala Shopping Festival.
The preliminary talks for the third season of the GKSF are going on now. A meeting of major traders was called in Ernakulam last week as part of the governent’s effort to hold talks with all sections of the different trade sectors in the state. The meeting was also attended by representatives of various trade organisatons. The Festival Directorate is planning to make presentations on the Shopping Festival in conventions conducted by traders’ associations with the help of management experts. Preparations are being made to conduct GKSF, which was accepted in the last two years by everyone cutting across political lines, in a more better way. The support and co-operation of all organisations, including the Kerala Vyapara Vyavasaya Samithi, is essential for the success of the Shopping Festival.
Assesment from the shops that registered for the Grand Kerala Shopping Festival last year will soon be collected and district-wise and town-wise presentations will be made to sensitivise traders on how to conduct the festival. Moreover consumers and others can also write to K. N. Satheesh, Director of the Grand Kerala Shopping Festival, if they have any opinion or ideas they wish to communicate. The final plan for this year’s shopping festival will drawn up only after taking into consideration all the views and suggestions of the traders and the public.
The surge in trade during the last two editions of the Grand Kerala Shopping Festival has helped the industrial and commercial sectors in the state in a big way. Therefore traders should make maximum use of the third edition of the Grand Kerala Shopping Festival to their advantage and the government would provide them with all help needed, T. Balakrishnan added.
