New Delhi, Nov 13 (IANS): President Pranab Mukherjee will inaugurate the India International Trade Fair Friday, in which South Africa has been nominated the partner country while Thailand is the focus country.

The event which is being organised by the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO), an arm of the commerce ministry, will be inaugurated by President Mukherjee in the presence of Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Lt Governor of Delhi Najeeb Jung.

'All centre and states pavilions are being renovated and their facades are being given a new look as per the theme of the fair 'Women Entrepreneurs’, this year. Various agencies have geared up to facilitate the different activities pertaining to convenience and safety for a large number of participants and visitors," the ITPO said.

The 34th edition of IITF is expected to see the participation of over 6,000 exhibitors from India and abroad. There are 31 central government ministries and departments along with their public sector undertakings (PSUs) which will also take part in the event.

ITPO said that this year's theme of the fair ‘Women Entrepreneurs' will showcase the position of women and their status in any society as an index of its civilization.

"In the present changing scenario, skills in entrepreneurial development have become important. Women entrepreneurs have been making considerable impact in almost all the segments of the economy," ITPO said.

This year twenty five foreign countries are taking part in the IITF.

ITPO added that the business days will be from Nov 14-18, while the fair will be open for the public from Nov 19-27, 2014.

Hosted by the ITPO, the 34th edition of IITF is the largest and oldest integrated goods fair in India. In 2013, 6,500 exhibitors participated, and 300,000 people from 45 countries visited the fair.