Oct 10: Preparations for Vinexpo India to be held in Pragati Maidan, New Delhi on 9-11 December have gathered momentum, with the waning Covid Pandemic presenting an optimistic scenario and the synergy with SIAL India an added advantage in its maiden edition, opines Subhash Arora who feels that the reduced excise duty and VAT in Delhi will offer huge benefit to the foreign and Indian producers with labels not registered in Delhi but who want to enter the lucrative market, and coupled with easing of visas for tourist travels from overseas, the activity is bound to perk up
Despite the constraint of time the organisers- Vinexposium and Inter Ads Pvt Ltd. are confident of very good participation especially because it is truly a world class wine show after over a decade and because of the synergy with SIAL India which has been held successfully earlier and will run concurrently at the Pragati Maidan on 9-11 December 2021.
The announcement last week that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will start issuing tourist visas from October 15, has been a shot in the arm for many participants and visitors who might have had nagging doubts about travel and the logistics. Those travelling through chartered flights will be allowed to enter India from October 15 while regular flights will have free entry from November 15, almost a month before the show opens.
All due protocols and norms relating to Covid-19 as notified by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare from time to time, shall be adhered to by the foreign tourists, carriers bringing them into India and all other stakeholders at landing stations.
The participation and Registration in SIAL India in Halls 8,10 and 11has been in full progress. The Hall No. 9 for wines and spirits has been seeing a lot of traction recently with the foreign missions taking keen interest in having the presence in Vinexpo India as this would give them the benefit of better footfalls in the food stand of their countries and vice versa, even though they may rent smaller wine stands this year. Though the stands in Vinexpo might be smaller than planned for the future editions, the organisers are happy to have taken the initiative for the Show during the year of the pandemic.
Also Read : SIAL India spreads its wings to Mumbai in May 2022
At a virtual meeting with several missions Rod Lameyse had stressed the importance of this show and stressed they were here for the long haul in Asia after having organised Vinexpo in Shanghai and Hong Kong. Vinexposium which has two partners Vinexpo and Comexposium which has already organised SIAL India successfully earlier, decided to add wines and spirits this year. Rod had emphasised that his organisation wanted to expand into smaller wine markets and found India to be a perfect venue addition for Asian market. He also emphasised that it was the objective of the Show to put Indian wines on the planet and this will help the Indian wine producers tremendously.
Besides smaller Indian wine companies that want to enter the Delhi market which encourages newer and smaller producers to enter, several fruit wine and mead (honey wine) producers are planning to participate as they look to enter the market and the restaurateurs, retailers and distributors are looking forward to add these wines to their existing portfolio.
Wine Tasting will be allowed at the stands, tasting areas and the seminars and conferences which will be an important part of the Show where the producers can talk about their country, region and wines or spirits. It would also be a learning ground for wine professionals registering for seminars.
Also Read : SIAL India to launch Vinexpo India in Delhi on 9-11 December
Watch out for this space for the latest developments. The entry will be free for wine professionals who can register online or at the Registration Desk. They will have the added advantage of enjoying food and wine pairing because of the participation of SIAL India-alongside.
Subhash Arora
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