The organisers claim that the exhibition was a big success with spot orders worth Rs 5 crore and enquiries over Rs 50 crore having been negotiated. The participants, however, are keeping their fingers crossed. Though all agree that the African market offers tremendous scope for doing business, they feel that it would take some time before anything concrete emerges.

A total of 58 Indian firms including 38 SSI units participated in the exposition. The Small IndustriesDevelopment Bank of India (Sidbi), the sponsors of the exposition, provided the small sector participants with a subsidy of Rs 30,000. Says Girish Bajaj of Bajaj Machines (P) Ltd, a participant, "We have been promised a reimbursement of the amount but have yet to get it."

According to C S Shukla, additional executive director, the technology being offered by the Indian units is just right for Africa. "The African countries are not technology savvy, so they cannot adjust to the technology being offered by the Western countries. The medium technology being offered by the Indian units is just right for them."

Bajaj agrees with Shukla. "The technology offered by us is definitely suitable to the African conditions and have thus generated a lot of interest."

As Africa has an agro-rich economy, Bajaj, whose unit manufactures fruit and vegetable processing, bottling, canning and pouch packaging machines, has tremendous scope there. However, Bajaj is sceptical. "Though Africa offers us a lucrative businessproposition and chances of forging joint ventures, we cannot start counting our chickens as most of the African companies depend on government funds. Only if their government sanctions funds to them can we talk about tie-ups."

The exposition, which was scheduled to be held in August, had to be postponed because of the bomb blasts rocking the embassies in Kenya. Shukla says that holding the exposition in the first week of September was agreed upon as the organisers feared that further delay might lead to cancellations.

Ashok Jaisingh of Eternal Radio, however, had to cancel his participation because of other commitments. "I am unhappy that I had to miss the opportunity but it couln't be helped."

India-tech was the first international event to take place in Nairobi after the bomb-blasts and Shukla says the move was appreciated by the Kenyan government. "The exposition was attended by a large number of ministers and dignitaries."

According to Shukla, the bomb blasts did not have any bearing on the eventas business visitors from surrounding countries like Uganda, Tanzania, Congo, Ethiopia and Egypt took part in full attendance. But Bajaj doesn't agree. "Though we expected a lot of businessmen to come from the surrounding countries, very few actually turned up. I think we were over-estimating the scope of the exposition."

Subroto Das of Hindustan Power Products (P) Ltd feels that the visitors were not focussed and were generally looking around. However, he says that he had some serious visitors who had specific requirements. Das sees potential for his inverters and servo controlled voltage stabilisers. "The market looks good. We are holding talks, but we need time to find out."

Harpreet Singh of Ferry Radio Corporation, a unit manufacturing televisions, recorders and automobile spares, is a determined person. Going by the response that he got in the exposition he stayed back in Kenya for a longer period in order to further explore the situation. "The market is big, but most of the companies are asking forcredit. We have negotiated with a few companies and hopefully transactions will begin soon."

The credit problem can be solved to a great extent if the agreement between Exim Bank of India and South and East African Bank (popularly known as PTA Bank) for a line of credit worth $4.51 million comes through.

Says Shukla, "The agreement would help the two institutions in promoting trade and investment flows between India and member countries of PTA Bank."

SIDBI is also trying to promote trade between the Indian small sector and African enterprises. The Project and Equipment Corporation, which helps Indian companies to export projects by providing market information and support, is in talks with the PTA Bank. Says N K Maini, general manager, SIDBI, "If the entire tie-up materialises, it is going to help the small sector in establishing a strong foot-hold in the African market."

The Engineering Export Promotion Council is planning another exposition in Africa. The focus this time will be on East Africa. "Wehave decided to hold the event in Nigeria. This way, it can attract buyers from several East African countries and the Indian exporters can hunt for markets in the entire region."