COWE Trade Carnival 2009 - an exhibition by women for women to showcase women entrepreneurship from 10th October

lConfederation of Women Entrepreneurs (COWE), a Hyderabad-based non-profit business organization promoted to bring about social and economic upliftment of women force through entrepreneurship is to organize a Three-day COWE Trade Carnival here in city from 10th to 12th October at People’s Plaza, Necklace Road, Hyderabad. The exhibition will be open from 11 AM to 9 PM daily. Addressing media at a press meet, Mrs. Uma Gurkha, President of COWE informed that the COWE Trade Carnival 2009 is being organized with the support from the Government of Andhra Pradesh. The third in the series of annual fairs being organized by Confederation of Women Entrepreneurs, it is also supported by ZDH/Sequa partnership program of Indo-German Chamber of Commerce. Several other organizations like SBI, SBH, NSIC, MSME (Medium and Small Enterprises) – Govt. of India, PNB, SIDBI, Corporation Bank, GVK, LANCO, APSFC, Margadarsi, Radio Mirchi and NABARD are also supporting the trade fair. MADHISIA (Madurai Small and Tiny Industries Association), FAPCCI (Federation of AP Chambers of Commerce & Industry) and GOA Chamber of Commerce are the partner associates.

Various financial institutions such as BOI, SBH, PNB, SIDBI, AXIS, SME (Medium and Small Enterprises) – Govt. of India, NSIC and others are participating in the Loan Mela. The Loan Mela is organized to facilitate banker-entrepreneur interactions for quicker loan processing. Besides the several cultural and entertainment programs lined up at the carnival, games and competitions for children are also being organized, informed Mrs. Uma Gurkha. She also presented the COWE’s Activities Report 2008-09.

The Trade Carnival is organized with an aim to provide a platform for women entrepreneurs to showcase their products, widen market opportunities, test market, have B2B interactions and provide networking opportunities, informed Mrs. Soudhamini, Vice President and Publicity Incharge, COWE. The Trade Carnival offers benefits to both budding women entrepreneurs as well as existing women entrepreneurs. Budding women entrepreneurs and those who want to setup businesses can learn and enrich themselves with the advice and experiences of successful women entrepreneurs, she added. The specially created stalls are offered at subsidized rates exclusively for women to display their products manufactured or traded by them or for franchises.

Following the democratic philosophy of ‘BY WOMEN, OF WOMEN, FOR WOMEN”, this all women trade body ventured out to organize its maiden trade in 2007. Trade Carnival’s 2007 and 2008 were huge successes with over 200 exhibitors and over 30000 visitors. This year the Trade Carnival has 150 stalls — 20 commercial stalls, 8 sponsored stalls, NSIC has sponsored 25 stalls for the SSI sector, 10 stalls for Franchising Association and remaining for our women entreprenuers, informed Coordinator Mrs. Shailaja Reddy.

About 150 exhibitors will exhibit products such as Fashionware, Handicrafts, Home Need Products, Decoration items, Jewellery, Household goods, and many more consumer durables all manufactured by women entrepreneurs. Apart from these an exclusive arena for entertainment has been setup that will have Cultural events, dance & music programs and food courts have been organized. The Trade Carnival will be participated by women entrepreneurs who are in service providing such as Career Counselling, Medical Transcription, Home and House Keeping, Fashion Designers, Wedding Service Providers, Portrait Painters, Food Processors, Travel and Insurance Agents, etc. and others will also participate. These exhibitors are from various places such as Jaipur, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Kolkata, Mumai, Goa, Kanpur, Madurai, Kashmir, Hyderabad and other parts of AP. ZDH Partners with the support of ZDH, an Indo-German initiative are also participating. Ten members from Nigeria will also be participating informed co-convenors Mrs. Sandhya Reddy, Mrs. Madhu Tyagi and Ms. Shalini Deendayal.