The  10th Global Indian Festival (GIF) which started on June 6, 2012 was officially launched today by Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob in Kuala Lumpur.

GIF has successfully grown both in reputation and impact as a significant event in the Malaysian Calendar attracting business participation from India, Pakistan and Malaysia.

This year GIF anticipates some 500,000 visitors mainly locals to the five days of the  fest.

The organisers claim on their website that “The Global Indian Festival creates exciting and innovative experience comprising of commerce with cultural and artistic projects whilst linking together community values, cultural history and the sense of place that is invoked by an inspirational ‘one stop shopping centre’ environment.

GIF is now recognised as The Largest International Indian Shopping Festival in Asia Pacific.

The Global Indian Festival creates a link between arts and culture and tourism and has been an ongoing inspiration for Malaysian artists and is starting to create a global reputation as a landmark event in the region.”

Also present at the opening ceremony was Indian affairs advisor S Veerasingam, Perak MB Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin and foreign affairs deputy minister A. Kohilan Pillay and Indian High Commissioner to Malaysia Vijay K. Gokhale.

-cj.my