November 21: IMAGE '97, an international beauty fair organised by Conferences and Exhibitions Pvt Ltd, was inaugurated at World Trade Centre today. This exhibition of cosmetics, toiletries, perfumes and personal care items will run concurrently with a three-day seminar at the same venue.

Flagged off by Simone Tata, chairman of Lakme India Ltd, the show's inaugural session included a speech by V Balaraman, chief executive officer of Ponds India Ltd.

He said while the automobile industry, seen as one of the most popular, had an increase rate of 10 per cent per annum, the cosmetics industry was growing at the rate of 15 per cent per annum. Simone Tata said the market for cosmetics and toiletries was growing every day, not as much due to greater information as due to the entry of new companies into India. She said the market was expected to grow not in terms of money, but in terms of quality.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.