By Nayanima Basu, IANS
New Delhi : India is fast becoming a global hotspot for trade fairs as promoters see in the country a major potential to hold such events after it established itself as a preferred destination for outsourcing and manufacturing.
Global players such as France’s Promosalons, Germany-based Messe Düsseldorf and the US’ Las Vegas Convention And Visitors Authority (LVCVA) are among a host of promoters who see India as a fast-emerging destination for global-scale fairs.
“The Indian scenario in this field is moving fast and changing. It presents a valuable growth opportunity. Exhibition organisers from all over are looking at this market,” said Raj Anand, general manager, Promosalons India.
“Some players, in fact, are already present in India,” Anand told IANS.
Promosalons opened its wholly owned subsidiary in India in September 2006 to promote France-focussed exhibitions in this country, leading to a large number of global trade fair organisers to monitor the market closely.
The firm holds more than 70 exhibitions through a network covering 60 countries.
From fairs dedicated to defence to metallurgy and from aviation to automobiles, India not only attracts a host of domestic companies to such events but also draws several global players.
The recent defence exposition held at the sprawling Pragati Maidan exhibition grounds in the national capital, for example, drew a record 475 manufacturers, of which as many as 273 were from abroad.
The exposition attracted some 40,000 business visitors, against an anticipated 32,000 – a major improvement over the 5,000 people it drew in 1999. Twenty major pacts were signed on the first day with prospects for 1,200 in the pipeline.
Likewise, Messe Düsseldorf, one of the biggest trade fair organisers in the world, opened its India office, Messe Düsseldorf India Pvt. Ltd. (MDI), in April last year to offer a comprehensive international trade fair programme focusing on machinery and plant engineering, medicine and health.
It recently concluded one of its popular shows – Tube, Metallurgy and Schweissen and Schneiden 2008 – in New Delhi showcasing latest technological developments in tube and pipe, metallurgy and welding and cutting.
“India is an important market for us. At the recent Tube India, Metallurgy India and Welding shows, we had an outstanding response of exhibitors and buyers,” said Udo Schuertzmann, managing director for India.
While company officials said they hoped to double the India turnover to some $10 million by 2012-13, they were unable to give any ballpark figure on the overall size of the Indian market for such fairs – similar queries to other fair organisers drew a similar response.
“Currently, the Indian operation contributes around four to five percent to the total Group’s turnover. And with more shows in different sectors planned for the future we expect the revenues to double in five years,” Schuertzmann said.
The company is also planning to organise ‘Hospimedica India 2008’ on the developments in the medical industry and ‘Packtech India 2008’ showcasing latest trends and developments in the packaging industry in Mumbai in March and November respectively.
“India has wonderful potential to be a great new dynamic market place that would encourage even greater commerce. We will continue to invite Indian companies to our exhibitions to explore expanded commerce via our trade show industry,” emphasised Chris Meyer, vice president of convention sales for LVCVA.
“Indian exhibitions are similar to North American exhibitions, however, they currently lack modern trade show facilities to grow. Until new modern large facilities, with hotel support, are built, growth of the industry will be slow,” Meyer said.
Agreed Anand of Promosalons, who also said: “The infrastructure in this field in India needs to be tremendously improved in order to attract more active participation from international exhibitors or targeted professional visitors.”