However, not all the products were on display for on-the-spot sale. Instead, they had been displayed for giving exposure to the potential customers, and to also book the demands in advance.

"Yes, we are here to promote our range of products and to tell customers that we are the only ones giving gifts of various kind for every purchase made. It will be there during puja also," said Sanjay Verma, the state manager of Videocon, adding:

"Our price range is affordable in the competitive market. The response is tremendous because of our scheme. The demands are being booked. The actual sale will be at the showroom."

Similarly, promoters of LG products from its IT and home appliances sectors have floated a scheme: Rs 1,000 discount on the marked price. "It is valid till Monday only," said LG's sales executive Mukul Kumar, adding: "And we are booking demands for home delivery."

Rakesh Malhotra, a partner in the Delhi-based company Metro Plus Lifestyle specialising in the manufacture of outdoor and garden chairs, said that he was excited by the local demand and would be coming again to Patna to participate in another fair to be held in January next year.

"Yes, the customers have shown interest," he said. Similarly, Debashish Chakravorty from Atul Automation (Kolkata) was impressed by the local interest in his digital printing equipment used in printing press. "But the customers were ill-informed about the new vistas opening up in printing technology," he said.

Yet, another attraction was the heavy road construction equipment manufactured by JCB, Tata Deere and Caterpillar groups. "Big contractors are booking the products. The sale involves loan from banking and financial institutions," said Ritesh Kumar from JCB group, adding: "Yes, the local demand is there."

By far, Patnaites or the people of the state are getting exposure to trade fair, even though the magnitude is not so big. It is the first of its kind that CII has arranged in collaboration with the state government, and the plan is to make it an annual feature.