Kerala MSMEs Ink Rs 81 Crore Deals at TRADEX Kerala 2026 Global Meet

Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises from Kerala secured trade commitments worth over Rs 81 crore by signing 146 Memorandums of Understanding at the TRADEX Kerala 2026 international buyer-seller meet. The event, hailed as the first of its scale in the state, featured participation from over 30 international buyers and 400 local MSMEs across nine sectors. P Vishnuraj, Director of Industries and Commerce, announced the event will be institutionalised as a recurring platform to showcase the 'Kerala Brand' to global markets. Both buyers and sellers praised the initiative for creating focused business interactions and strengthening international trade partnerships.

Key Points: Kerala MSMEs Secure Rs 81 Crore Deals at TRADEX 2026

  • 146 MoUs signed
  • Over Rs 81 crore in commitments
  • 30+ international buyers from 20+ countries
  • Platform to be institutionalised
3 min read

MSMEs secure 146 MoUs worth over Rs 81 crore at 'TRADEX Kerala 2026'

Over 400 Kerala MSMEs signed 146 MoUs worth Rs 81+ crore with international buyers from 20+ countries at the TRADEX Kerala 2026 event.

"Instead of waiting to access markets abroad, we created a platform where global markets came to our doorstep. - P Vishnuraj"

Kochi, February 18

Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises from Kerala signed 146 Memorandums of Understanding with international companies during the international buyer-seller meet, TRADEX Kerala 2026, securing trade commitments worth over Rs 81 crore.

According to the release, twelve trade orders were confirmed during the event, and execution will commence immediately. More than 30 international buyers from over 20 countries and more than 400 MSMEs from nine key sectors across the State participated in the meet.

P Vishnuraj, IAS, Director of Industries and Commerce, said TRADEX Kerala will be institutionalised as a recurring platform in view of its grand success. He added that more details of the upcoming event will be announced soon. He noted that this was the first time in Kerala's history that an international reverse buyer-seller meet of this scale had been organised, bringing global buyers directly to the State's enterprises.

"Instead of waiting to access markets abroad, we created a platform where global markets came to our doorstep. This initiative stands firmly on the strength of Kerala's evolving industrial ecosystem - the Kerala Brand. Through the Kerala Brand, we are demonstrating that products from Kerala are built on values, responsibility and global credibility. TRADEX Kerala is the practical way of showing that idea in action - it is a platform where good-quality products from Kerala get real business opportunities in the global market," he added.

The two-day event concluded on Wednesday. Suraj S, Chief Executive Officer of KBIP; Unikrishnan K., Joint Director General, FIEO; Jimmi Joseph, Deputy Commissioner, Customs House, Kochi; Anand Sarma, State Head, SPIU, RAMP Programme; and Premraj P, Joint Director, Directorate of Industries and Commerce, also attended the valedictory function of the event.

Buyers, Sellers Laud State's Initiative at TRADEX Kerala:

Both buyers and sellers lauded the State Government's initiative in organising such a large-scale international event in Kerala. Mr Franz Georg Zinggl, Managing Director, Avieko Trading GmbH, Republic of Austria, said the event was well organised. "I signed nine Memorandums of Understanding during the event. More initiatives like TRADEX Kerala should be conducted to strengthen global trade partnerships," he said.

Salil Rahim, Business Development Manager of Soroup Trading Co. Ltd., Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a company engaged in FMCG food products, said he signed three Memorandums of Understanding with sellers from Kerala. Ms Annabel Wambui Kamondo of Bella Anka International, Republic of Kenya, urged the Government to organise more international buyer-seller meets so that overseas buyers can revisit Kerala and further strengthen their ties with local sellers.

The press release also noted that the sellers expressed confidence that their companies' turnover would increase substantially through partnerships with international firms. They noted that the event was efficiently organised, with buyers well briefed on the sellers in advance, resulting in more focused and meaningful business interactions.

Joshy Joseph, Director and Marketing Head of Indcarb, a Palakkad-based manufacturer and exporter of steam-activated carbon, said the company entered into an agreement with Avieko Trading GmbH and expects the partnership to substantially boost its operations and turnover.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

A
Arjun K
Rs 81 crore from a single event is impressive, but I hope the execution is smooth. MoUs are just the first step. The government must ensure proper handholding for these MSMEs to actually fulfill the orders and maintain quality standards. That's the real test.
S
Sarah B
As someone who works in international trade, this "reverse buyer-seller meet" model is very smart. Pre-briefing buyers saves everyone's time. Kerala's focus on its "Brand" built on values and credibility is the right long-term approach, not just competing on price. Well done!
V
Vikram M
Great initiative! But why only nine sectors? Kerala has so much more to offer - handicrafts, coir, spices, tourism services. Hopefully the next TRADEX will be even bigger and include more diverse industries from across the state. The potential is huge.
R
Rohit P
This is the kind of positive news we need to see more often. MSMEs are the backbone of our economy. When they grow, jobs are created locally. Kudos to the organisers and the participating businesses. Jai Hind!
K
Karthik V
While the event is a success, the article mentions "over 400 MSMEs" but only 146 MoUs. That means many went home empty-handed. The government should analyse why some succeeded and others didn't, and provide targeted training before the next meet. Let's make it inclusive.

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