The fourth edition of the Uttar Pradesh International Trade Show is scheduled to begin on Friday at India Expo Centre and Mart in Greater Noida. Union Home Minister Amit Shah will inaugurate the five-day event at 11 am, with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also attending the opening ceremony.

This year's trade show is expected to have a stronger international presence, with Austria, Japan, Russia, Singapore, Belarus and Vietnam participating as partner countries for the first time. Their participation is expected to create additional opportunities for business partnerships, technology cooperation, sourcing, investment and access to new international markets for businesses from Uttar Pradesh.

The event is being organised as a major platform to connect manufacturers, entrepreneurs, exporters and traders from Uttar Pradesh with domestic and international markets. Business-to-business meetings between buyers and exhibitors will be organised during the event. Sector-specific policy sessions will also provide a platform for discussions related to investment, trade, technology and business expansion.

Uttar Pradesh's Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Department Minister Bhupendra Chaudhary recently shared details about the preparations and objectives of the trade show. According to the information provided by the department, more than 2,400 exhibitors are expected to participate in the event.

The organisers expect more than 1.5 lakh business-to-business buyers and visitors, along with over 4.5 lakh general visitors. More than 550 international buyers from 85 countries are also expected to participate, giving local businesses an opportunity to interact directly with overseas buyers and potential business partners.

Efforts are also being made to increase the participation of genuine international buyers through the hosted buyer programme. Importers, distributors, retailers, sourcing agents, procurement officials, business associations and other commercial stakeholders are being connected through the programme. Registrations of foreign buyers from 72 countries have already been reported.

The trade show is also significant for Uttar Pradesh's large MSME ecosystem. The state has more than 96 lakh MSME units, and the government has been focusing on creating an environment where businesses can expand, innovate and compete in global markets.

The event is expected to provide local enterprises with opportunities for market expansion, investment, business networking and employment generation. It will also allow exhibitors to showcase products and explore possibilities for exports and long-term international partnerships.

A special focus has been placed this year on the state's One District, One Product initiative. Along with traditional products from different districts, the One District, One Cuisine concept will also receive special attention.

Under this initiative, traditional recipes, local food items and the culinary heritage of different districts of Uttar Pradesh will be presented to visitors from India and abroad. The focus is intended to highlight the diversity of the state's local food culture and create wider recognition for district-level products and cuisines.

Over the five-day period, the trade show will bring together businesses, buyers, investors and other stakeholders from different sectors. The participation of new partner countries and international buyers is expected to provide Uttar Pradesh-based businesses with opportunities to explore new markets, develop partnerships and expand their commercial networks.