indiamarkets launches business fair

indiamarkets.com, considered the country’s most comprehensive business-to-business infomediary, has launched a month long virtual business fair, TradeZone.

Branded “the only on-the-net exhibition for manufacturers,” the online event showcases 200 companies, including 20 from the U.S., Ms. Nayantara S Kamath, Vice-President, Operations of indiamarkets told The Hindu. The 20 companies in the U.S. “pavilion” are looking for Indian franchisees and partners. The companies in the fair are those considered “progressive businesses,” she added.

Among the categories represented are engineering, electrical, electronic, gifts and handicrafts, pharma and IT, and the U.S. firms are also in these businesses. While businesses are registered on indiamarkets on a long-term basis, the trade fair is expected to give them more exposure. Product information, company backround and contact-persons details are provided at the click of the mouse.

indiamarkets now has an aggregation of 29 vertical supplier communities representing over 150 product categories. The site focuses on improving business volumes and profitability by enabling well considered business decisions to improve purchasing, production and supply chain efficiencies.

The site brings together large communities of industry specific buyers and sellers and enables interaction not only for products and product intermediaries, but also for a host of other offerings such as buyers’ postings, auctions for surplus inventory, used machinery and industrial assets, aided by extensive search functions.

Registration on indiamarkets.com is free and the company’s revenue models are from percentages on transactions, creation of value-added services such as cataloging and virtual storefronts through ASP solutions, Ms. Kamath said.

Recent additions to the site’s services include intermediation for contract manufacturing, business alliances, consultants, information and insights on financing avenues and quality management, as well as e-business solutions for purchase and distribution automation.

The site’s B2B services are supported by comprehensive information aimed at facilitating judicious business decisions and promoting trade between potential trading partners. indiamarkets.com has an extensive repository of services relevant to B2B e-commerce. The contents are customized to the manufacturer’s needs, including daily business news across 150 product categories, in-depth industry reports on over 80 segments, industrial policies of various states, interviews with industry leaders and opinion makers, coverage of business events and trade fair and information on financing and business. indiamarkets aims to be one-stop shop for transactions, addressing the information needs of specific verticals.

The company has also launched its nation-wide network of e-business centers in industry rich areas across the country. the e-business centers are aimed at e-enabling operations of businesses cutting across geographical boundaries and industry segments. Whether it is infrastructure required for routine office functions or more significant issues of conducting business over the Net, the indiamarkets concept of “The physical and virtual workplace” is expected to bring in new business opportunities.

The site now has almost one lakh registered users and 2,500 companies visiting it, Ms. Kamath said. Creating business opportunities overseas is among the company’s future plans.