Vice President of India, M Hamid Ansari will inaugurate the IITF'08, while Union Minister of State for Commerce and Power, Jairam Ramesh will preside over the inaugural function, said Sheela Bhide, Chairman and Managing Director of ITPO during a press conference on Tuesday in New Delhi.

In tune with the government's commitment to promote closer ties with the neighbouring countries, Pakistan has been accorded partner country status while 'ASEAN' countries have been selected as the Focus Region at IITF'08.

Attracting over 7000 participants from India along with as many as 38 countries, the fair provides a befitting representation of both the domestic sector and foreign sector covering a broad display spectrum during 15 days fair from November 14 to 27.

Overseas participation covers Iran, Afghanistan, Argentina, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bhutan, Brazil, China, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Holland, Indonesia, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Montenegro, Myanmar, Philippines, Nepal, Pakistan, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Spain, Sudan, Syria, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago, Thailand, Turkey, UAE, United Kingdom, the US, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.

Organized by the India Trade Promotion Organization (ITPO), the fair is among the world's biggest trade shows approved by the Union Foires de Internacionale de-Paris (UFI). ITPO has been organizing the IITF since 1981.