The visit aimed to expose students to real-time market practices, export-readiness strategies, and the functioning of diverse industries participating in one of India’s largest global trade exhibitions. The visit enabled students to engage directly with exhibitors, understand product innovations, assess market trends and role of technology, and collect primary data for their live project work. Upon arrival, students were divided into groups of 5 members each and oriented regarding hall layouts which helped them in reaching at the right place and optimize time utilization.

Students interviewed exhibitors to understand their business models, involvement of technology, challenges, and plans for market expansion. The covered diverse sectors such as handicrafts, textiles, processed foods, sustainable products, FMCG, MSMEs, and international pavilions. They were provided with guiding questions to assess digital presence, certifications, pricing strategies, packaging quality, product differentiation, and awareness of international documentation processes. They also explored contemporary challenges faced by MSMEs, including high raw-material cost, stiff competition from mass-produced imports, lack of consumer awareness about sustainable products, and difficulty in obtaining certifications like FSSAI, ISO, and organic labels. This interaction helped them gain practical understanding of theoretical concepts taught in class.

The visit contributed significantly to the students’ entrepreneurial thinking. Many exhibitors were start-ups or small enterprises, which offered insights into opportunity identification, grassroots innovation, and customer engagement strategies. The IITF visit was a highly enriching academic exercise that bridged the gap between classroom learning and the real business environment.