One of the legacies of Himachal Pradesh from last 300 years is the ‘International Lavi Trade fair’ held Rampur Bushahr, near Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, which was once a major trading centre on the old silk route of Kinnaur, Tibet, Ladhakh and Afganistan. Held between 11th to 14th November every year, it attracts thousands of people from all over India and many from across the globe either visit the fair for trading or touring purposes (Rampur is also a famous tourist destination)

The fair is believed to have started as a memorial to the treaty concluded in 1681 between Tibet and Bushahr State during the rule of a king -Kehri Singh (1636-96 AD) thereby immensely increasing the trade between the two, a situation China now wishes to continue to develop.

From pashmina wool, varieties of dry fruits ,machine manufactured goods Chinese artifacts, such as jewellery, Chinese Jackets, Track Suites, Crockery, handicrafts, tea, herbs and even ‘bushy Yak tails’ are being displayed on the Tibetan and Kinnauri stalls .Special cultural programmers are also organized in the evenings to give the environment a complete feel of social, cultural and economic linkages.

So those of you who are excited to be a part of the biggest trade fair of the greater Himalayas and have been waiting to buy those “real” pashmina shawls and other products, set in your calendars now for the next year.

India-China trade has been picking up recently – with Kunming just establishing direct flights to Kolkotta (Calcutta), another reopening of trade paths that have been closed for over 60 years. Indeed, Kolkotta possess India’s largest China town having been the main port of exit for goods from Lhasa during much of the time of the Dalai Lama. With previous tense border situations now a thing of the past, both China and India are keen to reestablish ancient traditional and previously lucrative trade between the two countries, and Tibet, sandwiched between the two may reemerge as a trading centre.

Numbers:(”1.46″,”1.2″, “MT”)

China has successfully emerged as the leading Asian economy to spur stainless steel consumption.

After an excellent response from many on the last issue on: Setting up Foreign Enterprises in India, we now bring to you an overview of the investment environment in Delhi and Mumbai. I’m sure a lot if you know both cities well, but we dig into the demographics and give you the rundown on the investment environment in these two emerging metropolis’s

Delhi, a city where I grew up in, is very warm and welcoming to everyone. From school to University to work, I have seen it changing into a real cosmopolitan city. It can be compared in many ways to Beijing also as the political head of the nation.

Mumbai rocks! I have spent a few years there to and that time is unforgettable. The city gets to you in many ways, it’s unique culture facing both east and west, and as the financial capital of India it now boasts some of the most expensive real estate in the world. We lift the lid off what is going on and give you a peek at why Mumbai is a city you should be considering having a good look at. It too compares in many ways with Shanghai.

Finally we look at the USD100 billion planned Delhi-Mumbai Corridor, tax incentives, and free trade zones. As India opens up, this is a neat introduction to two of it’s primary cities. We hope you enjoy it – subscription is complimentary and available on the India Briefing homepage

UK-based NRI and prominent businessman Lord Swaraj Paul who founded the 1.5 billion Caparao Group, a steel products and engineering major now begins to look at China after successful business in India for many years.

What are they doing in India:

Have built 15 new plants in the last three years and 16 are under construction. Their revenue from India will be around US$ 1 biilion by 2012.

What do they want to do in China:

Its not that China is new to them. They have a representation here. Presently it’s the automobile sector that’s attracting them and the drive that they want to be specialists in the industry that they cater to, this is just a step ahead.

In the words of Paul:

China is very much on our agenda. If an opportunity comes, our people would love to do so (make investment) in the automobile component sector, We certainly see more potential in China

we are still looking for more and if we have the customers, we will go to any extent (to invest), mostly in the automobile components.

Its really amazing to see the number of Indian businessmen venturing into China.  For many Indians living here in China is like home…There are lots of myths that Indians carry when thinking of moving to China.. well they shouldnt- once here you will really like the place.

Numbers:(”13″,”54″)

Despite of India having better numbers it is lagging behind China in terms of production figures.

No I don’t say that. Neither do I buy that. These words are from Emily Sanders, President & CEO of Sanders Financial Management where she tells to CNBC’s on which of the two to choose when deciding where to invest.

She starts of with the present growth rates in C&I, talks about ICICI and Tata Motors, from India and STP, a Chinese company, then on to the FDI scenario in India and where is it actually coming from and the conclusion : India is a short term destination!!

Hear her here.

With the present growth in India taking place, the infrastructure devolopment that the government is spending on and the number of projects that are taken up by each state government from time to time to attract foreign investment -do you think it is a place that you would look for a shorter term.

I wouldn’t perceive literacy as a concern/limiting factor but see it rather as an opportunity for investors thinking of starting educational institutions.

what is your take on the subject?