A view of the parade at DTF 2012

The 10-day Doha Trade Fair 2012, which opened on January 1 at Doha Exhibition Centre, has attracted over 120,000 visitors in its first six days, organisers said yesterday.
DTF 2012, described as one of the prime trade shows in the region, features more than 560 international exhibitors, showcasing and selling the widest possible range of the most exclusive and traditional products from countries across the globe.
“I am always on the hunt for arts and crafts items, and this is a great place to shop for hand-made accessories. I am very pleased with this year’s show, as there are more options and variety on display,” said Anu V, a visitor from India.
Sarah, another visitor who was accompanying her friends to the fair, declared that the most important and attractive aspect of the Doha Trade Fair is that she is able to find products from different parts of the world, all in one place.
Eager to sell more, this year the exhibitors brought the best-selling items, traditional products, antiques and newly-released household products, as well as electronic gadgets to the fair, while offering visitors the chance to try-and-test products from juice-blenders, mixers, cookware and kitchenware to cleaning products.
 “This is the second time I am participating in this exhibition, and I am very satisfied with the number of customers at my stall. I thought it would be a good idea to give a live-demo of our products,” said Mohamed Assif of Super Asia, which sells cookware and kitchenware.
The arts and crafts section has among its highlights hand-made crafts, portraits and paintings on display. Also, the artists themselves are available at the stalls to explain to the visitors and shoppers about their paintings, the materials used and how they are made.
“People are interested in my products and I am very proud that my goods are all hand-made and original. I am a returning exhibitor and I think this exhibition is a great opportunity for me to advertise and showcase my work to the right customers,” said Mozhgan from Iran, owner of ‘Crease,’ which sells hand-made ceramic items and home accessories.
Several visitors rated the food and carpet sections among the most popular sections of the DTF 2012, as they included a large collection of fine carpets, good-quality food and spices, among many others.
The Doha Trade Fair 2012 will conclude on Tuesday. Opening times are from 11am until 10pm daily and on Friday from 2pm until 10pm. Entry is free. The parade runs daily starting at 2pm.
The DTF 2012 is organised by Qatar Tourism Authority in association with q.media events. Strategic partners are Seqlia, Al-Mutakamelah Tents, Batteel and Al Shohob Company.
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