Grand Kerala Shopping Festival a Huge Success: Kodiyeri Balakrishnan

GKSF has been a huge success by boosting the trade sector in the state, the Home-Tourism Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said in a press release here today. From December 1st 2009 to January 15th, the entire state comprising 38863 sq.km became part of the festival. GKSF was not conducted on the lines of other world famous shopping festivals like Dubai or Singapore which were held in centralized areas from which only large scale traders could benefit. GKSF helped in stimulating varied manufacturing sectors including traditional manufacturers as well as both small scale and large scale trade sectors.

People not only from within the state but also international tourists as well as tourists from other states became part of the festival and won prizes including gold. Even as the effects of economic recession were still being felt in many parts of the world, Kerala was able to improve trade and economy as a result of GKSF.

A total of 5008 Mercantile Establishments became members of the festival, which is more than double compared to previous year. Out of this 335 shops registered as gold partners, 4420 registered as Silver partners and 84 shops registered in the General category. Ernakulam district, with 782 shops, registered the most number of shops, followed by Thrissur district 607 shops. Thiruvananthapuram came third. Thiruvananthapuram also registered the most number of gold partners – 51. Bhima Jewellery, a gold partner in Thiruvananthapuram, gave away the most number of coupons – 180,000 (One Lakh Eighty thousand). Thiruvananthapuram also tops the list of the district selling the most number of coupons by giving away more than 6,00,000 coupons. A total of more than 31 lakh coupons have been sold according to first estimates in the third season of GKSF making it more than double the figures from last year, the Minister said.

In the next year the government would try to bring more international tourists and take steps to ensure more participation of small scale traders, Kodiyeri said.

The role played by the media in supporting the festival, both inside and outside the state is praiseworthy, he said. GKSF was also able to co-ordinate the different involved departments resourcefully. Kodiyeri Balakrishnan thanked everyone who cooperated with the state government to make GKSF a grand success.

Source : Equity Bulls

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