Feb 2020

EEA2020 www.exhibitionexcellenceawards.com

28 March CIDCO Mumbai

Feb 2020 Vol 7 Issue 7

Asia’s Most Read Magazine On Exhibi ons

We look forward to welcoming the entire fraternity to experience our warm hospitality at the Exhibition Excellence Awards Ravi Boratkar

2020

From The Desk Of The Group Editor

Dear Readers, Greetings!

It is significant to note that despite challenging mes for the global exhibi on industry, NürnbergMesse India has pulled off all its shows in a staggering style. The shows have been extremely successful reflec ng the power and significance of our industry. NürnbergMesse India successfully executed an impressive line up of events – Acrex India, Fire and Security India Expo – FSIE, INDIAWOOD and the newest addi on – India Ma resstech Expo, this week. Congratula ons to Ms. Sonia Prashar and her team for leading from the front and se ng a fine example for the industry.

The 5th landmark edi on of Exhibi on Excellence Awards, which will be held on 28 March, 2020 at CIDCO Exhibi on & Conven on Center, Mumbai, has received an unprecedented support from the government bodies and industry associa ons.

Showcasing The World Of Business Tourism

M I C E Showcase &

PSU BUZZ

LATEST NEWS FROM THE WORLD OF TRADE ASSOCIATIONS

The list includes: The Ministry of Tourism The Ministry of MSME Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Maharashtra Tourism PHD Chamber of Commerce Na onal Small Industries Corpora on Trade Promo on Council of India India Conven on Promo on Bureau Indian Exhibi on Services Associa on Event & Entertainment Management Associa on Italian Exhibi on Industry Associa on Hong Kong Exhibi on Industry Associa on Pacific Asia Travel Associa on Skal Interna onal Associa on of Domes c Tour Operators of India The Travel Agents Associa on of India (TAAI) Network of Indian MICE Agents Telengana Chamber of Events Industry The Travel Agents Federa on of India

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In his exclusive message to Exhibi on Showcase, Mr. Ravi Boratkar, MD, ACE (ACE manages the state owned CIDCO) said, “CIDCO is one of the first and exclusively built facility for conven ons and exhibi ons in Navi Mumbai. The smart city of Navi Mumbai is very conveniently approachable from Mumbai, Nashik and Pune. And I think, with the new Interna onal Airport of Mumbai coming very close to usand two new Sea Links which would be connec ng this region to the mainland Mumbai, I think it will be very convenient to come to CIDCO from anywhere. CIDCO Exhibi on Center is located in one of the very smart environments with good surrounding infrastructure, very well approachable by highway, metro and of course, now the new airport will be on that side too. And because of the proximity to one of the busiest ports in India called JNPT, this area is very close to the major logis cs hub, which is very good for the industry to have exhibi ons of any size here.

I would like to say that we're really excited to host the 5th edi on of the Exhibi on Excellence Awards at CIDCO Exhibi on & Conven on Center. And, in fact, we're eagerly looking forward to welcome all the industry captains and professionals from across India and abroad to our warm hospitality here. On this 5th edi on of the Exhibi on Excellence Awards on the 28th of March, 2020 at CIDCO Exhibi on Center, we hope to see you all. So be there and be a part of this exci ng event and our hospitality.”

INDUSTRY IN PICTURES FROM THE WORLD

H.E. Mr. Satoshi Suzuki, Ambassador of Japan to India called on Sh. Ni n Jairam Gadkari, Hon'ble Minister for MSME, Govt. of India on 13th February 2020 in New Delhi to discuss the possible areas of coopera on in the field of micro, small and medium enterprises.

We at EEMA are pleased to have a consulta ve mee ng with the Maharashtra’s Minister of Tourism & Environment Mr Aaditya Thackeray. We would like to thank him for sparing his valuable me to discuss the event industry needs & how EEMA can support towards achieving the vision.

#IELAtalk News from CargoLive, S. de R.L. de C.V.: Proud to have been selected as the Official Freight Forwarder for @Expomaq2020 the most important specialized in Machine Tools and Manufacturing exhibi on in Mexico.

IPMMI and Messe Muenchen India to co-host PackMach Asia Expo which will be co-located with drink technology India, one of the country’s leading shows for the beverage, liquid food and dairy industry.

The 24th edi on of the UFI Global Barometer has been released. It reveals industry developments within the exhibi on world.

Philip Har ng, chairman of AUMA on coronavirus: The German trade fair organisers are in close contact with the public health authori es. At present, they see no reason to limit the realisa on of exhibi ons.

Extremely open, vibrant & dynamic interac ve session on #BudgetAndBeyond with Finance Minister @nsitharaman and team from @FinMinIndia with leading finance professionals, investment and tax experts from across the spectrum held Delhi #NITIAayog.

Union Minister @PiyushGoyal spoke at the India Portugal Business Forum about the shared history, culture & people es He said that the similari es & focus of both democracies on growth, investment, industry and innova on will deepen bilateral trade.

The 4th edi on of Fire and Security India Expo - FSIE begins on a grand note. Visit leading companies in the domain of fire safety and security over the next 3 days at IEML, Greater Noida, Delhi NCR.

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OF FACEBOOK & TWITTER

At the DPIIT FICCI Partnership Forum on Public Procurement for Make in India at New Delhi, Talleen Kumar, CEO, GeM presented on how GeM facilitates the growth of Startups and the effec ve implementa on of PPP-MII and PPP-MSE policies.

World Trade Center Mumbai hosted a book launch 'The Code' by Mukta Mahajani. Honorable Mr. Anil Deshmukh, Home Minister - Maharashtra along with Mr. Vijay Kalantri, Vice Chairman, WTC Mumbai also graced the occasion.

Mr.Anbu , DG & CEO (IMTMA & BIEC) and UFI incoming President along with CEO’s from the Global Exhibi on Industry with Pope Francis at the Va can. A rare opportunity !

Rakesh Kumar Chairman @IndiaExpoCentreand DG, @epchindia with Sudhir Tyagi, Director-IEML and Sudeep Sarcar, CEO-IEML gree ng the Commissioner of Police Noida Alok Singh IPS at his office.

Congrats Sabbas Joseph and Team Wizcra for pu ng together the grand show in Ahemdabad.

The interac ve programme 'Implica ons of Union Budget 2020-21' was held at the World Trade Center Mumbai. The discussion panel included @MsRupaNaik Sr. Director, MVIRDC World Trade Center Mumbai, Dr. Sachchidanand Shukla, Chief Economist, Mahindra Group.

A er @GSMA cancelled #MWC20 - the industry community is organising alterna ve events in Barcelona next week. This proves the power of face-to-face. And it will be interes ng to see what impact this might have for the #mwc future

ICCA analyses COVID-19 global mee ngs industry impact: Industry shows resilience & confidence of the 1,065 mee ngs in the ICCA, only 44 are affected by COVID-19!

Hon'ble Minister Shri @ni n_gadkari visited the Indian embassy in Sweden. The Indian Ambassador to Sweden Smt. Monika Kapil Mohta presented a piece of art to the Hon'ble Minister.

11 | February | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

Quick Bytes 4th Edi on of Famdent Pune Marks Grand Success Famdent Pune 2020 returned to Pune for the 4th me with about 100 eminent par cipants showcasing best products in den stry prac ces to about 5000 visitors. Close to 20 top speakers deliberated talks, live procedures and workshops on progressive dental prac ces in front of about 500 delegates. 4th edi on of Famdent Pune, the regional exhibi on and Conference of FAMDENT took place between February 8-9, 2020 at Auto Cluster, Pune. FAMDENT, organized by Messe Düsseldorf India is now a part of the MEDICAlliance umbrella of the Messe Düsseldorf Group. With over 100 exhibitors par cipa ng and showcasing resources for progressive dental prac ces, Famdent Pune 2020 a racted about 5000 visitors, the highest in the history of Famdent’s all previous Pune edi ons. Commen ng on the success of the 2020 edi on of Famdent Pune, Mr. Thomas Schli , Managing Director, Messe Duesseldorf India, stated, “The FAMDENT 2020 Conference & Exhibi on in Pune was the 4th consecu ve event and evidence of the evolu on that’s shaping the den stry in this region apart from our flagship annual FAMDENT event in Mumbai. This year the Conference & Exhibi on, like the previous edi ons, delivered the most soughta er educa on in modern den stry prac ces featuring scien fic sessions, live procedures, hands-on workshops and Paper & E-Poster Presenta ons with around 20 top speakers and 500 delegates. Moreover, FAMDENT remains to be an exclusive den stry event that has been designed by leading den sts who are considered experts in the business and give insigh ul details to the den sts’ fraternity.”

New Dates Announced For UFI Asia Pacific Conference

Fastener Fair Turkey 2020 Ready To Welcome Interna onal Visitors With 190 exhibitors already booked at Fastener Fair Turkey, registra on is now open for trade visitors to join the 5th Interna onal Exhibi on for Fastening and Fixing Technology at the Tüyap Exhibi on Center in Istanbul on 27-28-29 February 2020. “A ended by global players like car manufacturers Ford and Toyota as well as the Turkish Airlines and State Railways, as many as 190 exhibitors from 11 different countries have already booked their stand, confirming the interna onal nature of the show,” said Olivia Griscelli, Exhibi on Director of Fastener Fair Turkey, on behalf of the organisers Mack Brooks Exhibi ons Ltd. The exhibi ng countries are Turkey, France, Germany, Italy, Iran, China, Taiwan, Israel, India, South Korea and the USA. The trade exhibi on brings together industry professionals who source and trade fastener and fixing materials from key manufacturing sectors as the technology is required in a variety of industrial sectors. The exhibi on saw as many as 2,900 visitors from 48 countries in 2018, 70% up on 2016 levels.

Automo ve giants such as Hyundai, Tofas, Karsan Automo ve, Ford, Toyota, Man Truck and SAMPA Automo ve from the commercial and military transport sector also par cipated.

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The UFI Asia-Pacific Conference will be held on 27th and 28th August, and the Digital Innova on Forum on the 26th of August. Registra on will be re-open in March all the way through to the opening of the event. The venue for the conference remains unchanged, The Parisian in Macau. “When the outbreak of the Coronavirus le us with no choice but to postpone the conference, we pledged to run the event as soon as possible. Thanks to the great collabora on with our Macau hosts, we can now announce the new dates. Our 15th Asia-Pacific Conference will provide our industry with an important opportunity to meet and to discuss and plot the course ahead a er the COVID19 outbreak”, says Kai Ha endorf, UFI CEO. Registra ons from industry professional who previously registered for the UFI Asia-Pacific Conference in Macau will be kept in place for the new August dates – unless UFI receives a request to cancel the registra on, which will then happen free of charge. This marks the second me in the history of this conference that it will be held in Macau and UFI expects approximately 300 delegates to gather in Macau to network and to discuss the issues and trends impac ng our industry in Asia.

Pack Mach Asia Will Be Co-located With Drink Technology India 2020 There is now an emerging trend of co-loca ng two or more different exhibi ons under one roof (date and venue) to bring synergies and give broader benefits both to the exhibitors and visitors at large.

The latest event in news is Pack Mach Asia Expo which will be co-located with Drink Technology India 2020 expo to be held at Bombay Exhibi on Centre, Mumbai on December 09-11, 2020. An agreement was signed on 12th February 2020 between Ins tute of Packaging Machinery Manufacturers of India (IPMMI) and Messe Muenchen India, the organisers of Drink Technology Expo, to co-host Pack Mach Asia Expo. The agreement was signed by Bhupinder Singh, Managing Director, Messe Muenchen India and Samir Vijay Limaye, President of IPMMI. Drink Technology expo is an interna onal trade fair for beverage and liquid food technology. It is considered to be India’s number one trade fair for the beverage, liquid food and dairy industry. “The synergy of both drink technology India and Pack Mach Asia Expo are strongly aligned,” said Bhupinder Singh, adding, “the coloca on will add considerable value by integra ng the packaging industry on one pla orm.”

He is of the view that this trend-se ng pla orm will bring together technology specialists, decision-makers and people of influence from all branches of the Indian industry.

Quick Bytes

Postponed: Light + Building To Be Held In September 2020

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he unexpected appearance of Covid-19 in Italy since last weekend demanded a new analysis of the situa on in close coopera on with the public-health authori es of the City of Frankfurt. A mul -stage health check on guests from China has been called for, the implementa on of which would be extremely challenging for Messe Frankfurt. Addi onally, more and more travel restric ons are being put into place thus making it difficult for both visitors and exhibitors to a end the fair. Therefore, the organisers have decided to postpone Light + Building. This decision is supported by the coopera on partners of Light + Building, the Electrical Installa on Systems and the Light Working Groups of the Central Associa on of the German Electrical and Electronic Engineering Industry (ZVEI) and the Central Associa on of German Electricians (ZVEH). The foremost Italian associa ons also back this decision. A er Germany, the largest groups of exhibitors and visitors come from China and Italy. Light + Building is the sector’s most important mee ng place for architects, the industry, the installa on and retail / wholesale trades, and planners. As an innova on forum and interdisciplinary market place, it not only facilitates business and making contacts but also helps ensure a sustainable future. The industry has le no doubt that it absolutely needs this pla orm for doing business. Accordingly, Messe Frankfurt wants to ensure that the opportuni es created by Light + Building remain available to all market par cipants in the current season. Therefore, Light + Building 2020 is being postponed and will be held in Frankfurt am Main between the middle and end of September 2020.

Codissia To Launch Water Intec 2020

All Trade Fairs In Germany To Take Place As Planned

Jörn Holtmeier New Managing Director Of AUMA

The 10th edi on of Build Intec 2020, a building and construc on trade fair, and the maiden edi on of Water Intec 2020, was held from February 21 to 24 at the Codissia Trade Fair Complex. The event was organised by Codissia Intec Technology Centre. G Rammohan, Chairman, Build Intec 2020, said with water becoming crucial, the organisers decided to introduce Water Intec as a concurrent event. “It would be an expo on water and waste water technologies and we plan to introduce it from Coimbatore,” he said. Around 300 exhibitors from Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, U ar Pradesh, Gujarat, New Delhi, Haryana, Karnataka , Telangana, Kerala, Puducherry and Tamil Nadu showcased their products and solu ons at the four-day trade expo. AV Dharmakrishnan, Chief Execu ve Officer, Ramco Group of Companies, inaugurated the expo, with M Jagadeesan, Deputy Inspector General of Registra on, Coimbatore zone, as the guest of honour.

In view of the Mobile World Congress cancella on in Barcelona, Philip Har ng, chairman of AUMA, Associa on of the German Trade Fair Industry, has said in a statement that in Germany, all trade fairs will take place as planned. The German trade fair organisers are in close contact with the public health authori es. At present, they see no reason to limit the realisa on of exhibi ons. The health of visitors, exhibitors and addi onal par cipants has top priority.

The German trade fair organisers have taken numerous measures in order to protect the trade fair par cipants' health as best as possible. These measures range from specific sanita on to medical services onsite and are based on recommenda ons of WHO (World Health Organiza on) and acknowledged scien fic organisa ons such as the RobertKoch-Ins tut. Trade fairs in Germany stand for best possible health protec on in order to secure the interna onally appreciated feature of connec ng visitors and exhibitors from all over the world.

Jörn Holtmeier has taken over his new role as managing director of AUMA – The Associa on Of The German Trade Fair Industry. He had previously worked for the Daimler Group as Deputy Head of the Corporate Representa ve Office for Federal Affairs in Berlin, focusing on transport and environmental policy. Jörn Holtmeier is looking forward to his new responsibili es: 'The exhibi on industry is a very exci ng interna onal business that extends into almost all areas of the German economy as well as fields of policy. My experience in represen ng business interests will be especially valuable here. I'm pleased to be able to work with a highly mo vated team on promo ng current topics in the e x h i b i o n i n d u s t r y.’ H o l t m e i e r ' s predecessor, Dr. Peter Neven, re red at the end 2019. He joined AUMA in 1988, becoming managing director and head of the Trade Fairs Germany division in 1990 and sole managing director in 2006. In late 2017 he was appointed CEO.

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Quick Bytes

Ambiente 2020 - First Show To Be Impacted By Coronavirus Travel Bans

Exhibi on Industry Commi ed To Providing Mee ng Places Around The World

SAE Interna onal Expands Global Footprint With Acquisi on Of SMi Group Ltd

Trends, new products and interna onal business – these are tradi onally at the focus of Ambiente in Frankfurt, which took place from 7 to 11 February 2020. In total, around 108,000 buyers came to Ambiente from nearly 160 countries, seeking inspira on and looking to procure products for their new collec ons. 62 per cent came from countries outside Germany. One major reason for the reduc on in visitors' numbers was the impact of the coronavirus. Many German and interna onal retail companies, and indeed major ones, had banned their workforce from travelling.Another clearly no ceable factor was Storm Ciara. “If a trade fair is impacted by two such events, it really does face enormous challenges,” says Detlef Braun, Member of Execu ve Board of Messe Frankfurt. “But our exhibitors assessed the situa on correctly. And the trade visitors came to Frankfurt with a posi ve mindset and keen to place orders,” the experienced trade fair specialist adds. Sa sfac on ra ngs among visitors con nued to be at a robust level of 95 per cent. Due to the unusual situa on, no ceable shi s could be observed among the top ten visitor na ons.

A er Germany, they were Italy, France, the Netherlands, Spain, the UK, Turkey, the United States, Russia, Japan and China.

The outbreak of the Novel Coronavirus COVID-19 is impac ng the global exhibi ons and events industry, as events of all kinds are being postponed or cancelled. As the Global Associa on of the Exhibi on Industry, UFI is ac vely working with its members around the world in responding to this situa on. UFI President Mary Larkin today issued the following statement: “We stand in sympathy and support of everyone affected by the current COVID-19 outbreak, whether directly or indirectly. The exhibi ons and events industry exists to provide pla orms for people and industries to meet, to trade, and to collaborate. These gatherings are especially important in mes of disrup on. It is our obliga on to maintain opportuni es for people to meet wherever possible. Small and medium businesses in all industries in par cular depend on exhibi ons. And, like all types of events, they support the economy worldwide. We, as representa ves of the exhibi ons industry, are commi ed to providing these much-needed mee ng places around the world, wherever we can do so.

When it comes to health, we will rely on the experts in that field, from global bodies like the World Health Organisa on but also the na onal, regional, and local health authori es where we are running exhibi ons and events.

Smi Group Will Merge with Tech Briefs Media Group to Form SAE Media GroupSAE I n t e r n a o n a l a n n o u n c e d t o d ay t h e acquisi on of SMi Group Ltd, a United Kingdom-based company that specializes in the produc on of global events for the aerospace, defense and medical / pharmaceu cal sectors. As part of the acquisi on, SAE Interna onal will merge SMi Group with Tech Briefs Media Group (TBMG) to form the SAE Media Group. By combining the synergies of SMi's global event footprint with TBMG's publica on reach, the SAE Media Group can achieve aggressive global expansion goals to improve the organiza on's service and content offerings to a wider audience. David Schu , Chief Execu ve Officer of the SAE Group, welcomed SMi, no ng that the acquisi on enhances SAE's global posi on in the aerospace, defense and medical markets through SMi's unique range of events and content."As an organiza on, we have historically expanded through a strategic M&A approach, so this move helps us achieve our global goals," said Raman Venkatesh, Execu ve Vice President and Chief Opera ng Officer of SAE Interna onal.

"The forma on of the new SAE Media Group directly supports the priori es and focus of the larger SAE organiza on, and helps us leverage our broad capabili es."

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CBI Arrests Two ITPO Officials In Bribery Case

he CBI has arrested two officials of the India Trade Promo on Organisa on (ITPO), in a bribery case where the officials had allegedly manipulated alloca on of space for stalls at the upcoming Aahar Expo, scheduled to take place at Praga Maidan from March 3 – 7.Officials said that the two were arrested on February 17 and both had been remanded to police custody for the central agency to ques on them. Akshay Singh, Deputy Manager in ITPO was first arrested in a trap while accep ng Rs 35,000 bribe from the complainant who was supposed to arrange for space booking and decora on of stalls at the fair. The Central Bureau of Inves ga on also arrested Singh’s immediate superior, Rohit Sonkar, Manager at ITPO in the case and has alleged that the ini al demand was for Rs 1.25 lakh in exchange for releasing paperwork that would allow the complainant to start his work at the site in Praga Maidan. According to the CBI’s case, one Linova Kitchen Equipment Pvt Ltd had outsourced the work of booking its stall and decora ng to the complainant’s firm Four ACE Communica on, based in Gujarat.The complainant has alleged that when he visited the Praga Maidan site to collect the allotment le er, bill and transport entry pass from Singh, he demanded a bribe of Rs 1.25 lakh to release the said paperwork.

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ITPO Column Message From LC Goyal, CMD, ITPO Nearly three years ago, I had introduced online booking of space for events being held by ITPO primarily to eliminate chances of rent-seeking and underhand dealings. I have also been telling all the stakeholders to bring to my notice instances, if any, of rentseeking by the officials of ITPO or inform the law enforcement agencies. This has been the outcome of such an approach.

I am happy with the action taken by the CBI. And I have told them to look at all those who are seemingly involved in this episode along with the employees of the private vendor who is operating the online system.

At times, you come across such elements who succeed in gaming the system. ITPO will deal with such elements most firmly.

I have also constituted a Committee in-house to go into all aspects of the matter and also revisit the software so that such instances do not occur again.

ITPO NEWS

Union Minister Of Commerce & Industry To Open Aahar 2020

The Hon'ble Minister of Commerce & Industry and Railway, Government of India, Shri Piyush Goyal will inaugurate the 35th edi on of Aahar – the Food and Hospitality Fair 1.30 pm on March 03, 2020 in Hall A4 A (GF) of the newly built Interna onal Exhibi on-cum-Conven on Centre (IECC) ,Praga Maidan, New Delhi.

AAHAR2020 (March 03-07) is being organized by ITPO with support of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Development Authority (APEDA) and apex industry associa ons, Associa on of Resource Companies for Hospitality Industry of India(ARCHII), Hotel and Restaurant Equipment Manufacturers Associa on of India(HOTREMAI), All India Food Processors Associa on(AIFPA), Food & Hospitality Support Associa on of India(FHSAI), Forum of Indian Food Importers(FIFI), Federa on of Indian Food & Hospitality Industry(FIFHI) and Indore Confec onary Manufacturers Associa on (ICMA). The AAHAR fair assumes tremendous

significance in light of the announced Union Budget which has a focus on promo on of agri-community as well as tourism and MICE sectors which complements of the hospitality segment. The Central Government has recently approved the Agriculture Export Policy 2019 with an objec ve to double farmer's income by 2022. The fair is poised to grow in size a er comple on of ITPO's ambi ous project , world class Interna onal Exhibi on-cum-Conven on Centre (IECC) at Praga Maidan. Covering a gross area of over 40,000 sq. mtrs, in Halls 7,8,9,10,11,12 and 12A, A3 (GF), A4 A (GF), A4 B (GF) and Hangers 7 FGH, H7F, and H7A, the fair features a wide range of food products, machinery, F&B equipment, hospitality and Décor Solu ons, Confec onary item from over 750 par cipants from India and overseas. The fair has elicited par cipa on for the foreign par cipa on from countries including Hong Kong, Israel, Indonesia, Japan, Poland, Russia, Switzerland, UK and UAE.The display profile is segregated into four categories namely, 'Food Products, Ingredients & Addi ves', 'F & B Equipment', 'House Keeping & Engineering Equipment' and Confec onary.

News Buzz

Bangalore Hosts Third Edi on Of Greenbuild India - The Premier Interna onal Conference On Sustainability

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he U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) reiterated its commitment for sustainable and green building development in India by hos ng its flagship event on sustainabilityGreenbuild India, in Bangalore from FEBRUARY 6 -7, 2020. The event brought together the industry leaders, experts and frontline professionals dedicated towards sustainable building in their everyday work to share their vision on green construc on and infrastructure development in India.

With India and the world at large con nuing to grapple with problems such as climate change and sustainable

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development, this year's edi on of Greenbuild India focused on the future of LEED and green buildings, and its role in addressing pressing issues impac ng human health and the environment, such as air quality, energy use, waste reduc on and global climate change. As the third largest market in the world for LEED outside the U.S., India is home to more than 3,100 projects par cipa ng in LEED, comprising 1.6 billion gross square feet of space.

“India con nues to be a global leader in green building. By pursing LEED cer fica on for buildings and spaces, India is not only contribu ng to economic growth and development, but ac vely raising the living standard for its residents by providing more resilient, healthier and efficient buildings and communi es,” said Mahesh Ramanujam, President and CEO of U.S. Green Building Council and GBCI. “At Greenbuild India in Bengaluru, we are convening with green building experts

from all over the country as we work to build a more sustainable future for all people.”

LEED is an interna onal symbol of sustainability excellence that signifies a building is lowering carbon emissions, conserving resources and cu ng costs, while priori zing sustainable prac ces and crea ng a healthier environment.

Maharashtra tops the list, followed by Karnataka, Haryana, Tamil Nadu and U ar Pradesh, respec vely. In a change from last year, Haryana has moved up in the list, edging out Tamil Nadu for the third spot. The Top 10 states for LEED are home to more than 843 million Indians, and together include more than 48.3 million gross square meters of LEED-cer fied space.

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), , co-founded by Mike Italiano, David Go ried and Rick Fedrizzi in 1993, is a private, membership-based non-profit organiza on that promotes sustainability in building design, construc on, and opera on.

News Buzz

Interna onal Seafood Show In Kochi From 7-9 February 2020

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he Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), under Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, in associa on with the Seafood Exporters Associa on of India (SEAI), is organizing the 22nd edi on of India Interna onal Seafood Show (IISS) 2020 in Kochi from 7-9 February 2020.

The theme of this year’s seafood show is “Blue Revolu on- Beyond Produc on to Value Addi on”. Over 200 exhibitors, 350 stalls and more than 5000 delegates, including foreign delegates, are expected to a end the three-day event at Kochi.

The delegates include seafood processors, buyers and stakeholders, from other related sectors, represen ng firms in India and abroad. Buyer delega ons from countries focused on mutual e-ups in the sector of seafood processing and value addi on will also be par cipa ng in IISS 2020.

The biennial show returns to Kochi a er 12 years and will provide a pla orm for Indian exporters and overseas importers of Indian marine products to interact. It will also give an opportunity for display and sale for manufacturers and suppliers of processing machinery, packaging

systems, processing ingredient dealers and cold chain systems. The seafood show will also give service providers like the logis cs and cer fying and tes ng segments an opportunity to showcase their products.

IISS 2020 will highlight the technological advances and sustainable prac ces followed in seafood processing sector in India. Indian seafood processors have to make their mark in the sustainable league with the coopera on from the fishing and farming sectors. Further, the processing industry always looks to upgrade its technological backup for value addi on.

This will result in increase in the percentage of exports of value added products in this decade from the current level of 6 % in the total exports.

During 2018-19 India has exported over 14,37,000 tons of marine products worth

USD 6.70 billion as per provisional figures.

With a mul -pronged strategy, addressing capture fisheries and aquaculture, it is expected to achieve an export turnover of USD 15 billion in next five years.

Sustainable fishing methods, value addi on and increased aquaculture produc on through diversifica on will support this target set out for export of India’s marine products.

The IISS is one of the oldest and largest seafood events in the world. It a racts seafood traders from the major markets like USA, EU, Japan, South East Asia and other countries. Apart from this, foreign machinery manufacturers will showcase their cu ng edge equipment / machineries. The seafood show gives scope for tapping new avenues and introducing various technologies and products to the global market. Over the years, IISS has served as a pla orm to bring together the Indian seafood export fraternity and the overseas buyers under one roof, enabling them to interact and finalize future business dealings. The Show will pave way for Foreign Direct Investment in India and will contribute significantly to the Make in India programme.

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News Buzz

Techtex l NEXT Hackathon: Revolu onising The Sector Through Collabora on And Sustainability Bringing inven ve solu ons and intriguing conversa ons to the desk, India's very first technical tex le hackathon at the last Techtex l India led thrilling debates via a design thinking approach on what's best for the sector on an Indian and Global scale.

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ntrepreneurial innova on is driving change across industries.

Technological advances and the internet economy lend support to new ways of reaching customers and innova ve business models. The technical tex les sector is especially a potent hotbed of emerging solu ons to real world problems. Known as India's sunrise industry, the technical tex le industry is undeniably one of the most crucial sectors of India with its 12 widespread applica on areas contribu ng massively to the economy. The sector permeates every aspect of our modern living, ranging from fashionable and funky apparel to the farreaching infrastructure and agriculture, thus raising its prominence even beyond fashion. Despite its unprecedented poten al, the sector has been bogged down with gaps in knowledge sharing between stakeholders and the lack of avenues enabling entrepreneurial collabora ons.

debates between investors, tex le associa ons, designers, start-ups and entrepreneurs. With an intense flair for breakthroughs, the founders, investors and other leading professionals like Mr Saumil Shah (Co-Founder of Broadcast Wearables Pvt. Ltd), Mr Rajiv Indimath (An Investor and Co-Founder of High Performance Sports Coaching in Stealth Mode), Mr Mohit Rana (Managing Director- Raina Industries), Miss Neha Rao (Head of Product Innova on, Boheco), and Mr Dayal Mehta (Senior Marke ng Manager of Nonwovens,Technical Tex les and Protec ve Tex les) steered discussions on introducing be er standard of innova ons.

While the government has been fairly generous in suppor ng the sector through subsidies and start-up ini a ves, there is an essen al need for promo ng be er awareness and collabora on in the industry.

On the other hand, discussing alterna ves to promo ng sustainability in technical tex les, were (Sustainable Development Goals) SDG promoters, tex le associa ons and other major fields of the sector including Mr Shrikar Dhole, (Founder and CEO- SDG Founda on), Mr Anup Rakshit (Execu ve Director- Indian Technical Tex le Associa on), Mr Mohapatra (Bombay Technical Tex le Associa on) and Miss Niharika Gautam (Advisor- United Na ons SDG and Chairperson- All Ladies League).

Techtex l NEXT hackathon, as India's very first hackathon in technical tex les targeted such issues and brainstormed considerable ideas for growth of the sector. The hackathon witnessed s rring

As these experts led discussions on various challenges faced by the segment, the knowledge and collabora on gaps hampering a sustainable approach and thereby innova on were observed as the

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two most predominant areas that needed a en on. As an example to presen ng a prime solu on to sustainability, the experts factored the use of bio-degradable and recyclable materials as a worthy replacement for pollu ve composites, also leading way to fair wages and proper working condi on for workers. One of the notable applica ons men oned in this space was as follows - The millions of tonnes of plas c dumped in the ocean every year; if used as a replaceable raw material in manufacture of various technical tex les could shrink the extensive use of synthe c composites, reducing the cost of procurement and elimina ng excess pollu on emi ed in the process of their extrac on.

On the domes c front, the comprehensive seminars and workshops headed by India's Centre of Excellence ins tu ons have proven to be a great knowledge pla orm for raising awareness about the fastpacing sector, however a lack of collabora on s ll persists within the industry. To resolve this issue, the hackathon flagged integra on as the answer. With the dispersed applica on areas of technical tex les strongly suppor ng each other through their individual resources and innova ons, the sector could achieve exponen al growth and garner massive a en on towards its flourishing poten al.

The Co-Founder of a start-up known as 'High Performance Sports Coaching in Stealth Mode', Mr Rajiv Indimath, shared his impression of hackathon at the end of an enthralling session: “The hackathon has been a great mel ng pot and a great pla orm for expanding horizons and mindset. The sharing of experiences and fresh radical ideas are what made the Techtex l NEXT hackathon so great.”

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SIAM Hosts 1st Global Electrifica on Mobility Summit At Auto Expo 2020

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he Society of Indian Mobile Manufacturers (SIAM) organized the 1st Global Electrifica on Mobility Summit (GEMS) at Auto Expo 2020on 7th and 8th of February. Par cipated by over 200 foreign and Indian delegates, this two-day summit hosted three countries as 'Guest Countries' – France, Germany & Japan.

The policy makers and industry experts from these countries provided their respec ve country's objec ves, policy framework around fuel choices including electrifica on.

The Summit was supported by industry associa ons from across the globe including VDA from Germany, JAMA from Japan and SMMT from the United Kingdom and industry associa ons from India including ACMA, CII, IEEMA and IESA. Welcoming everyone present at the 1st edi on of GEMS 2020, Mr. Mahesh Babu, Chairman, SIAM Electric Mobility Group and CEO, Mahindra Electric Mobility, said, “The Summit is intended to create a discussion pla orm to bring everyone on board to embark on the journey of electrifica on in the country”.

Mr. Vinod Agarwal, Treasurer, SIAM and Managing Director & CEO, VE Commercial Vehicles, said, “The Summit being held in conjunc on with Auto Expo at a common venue is a live demonstrator of “walk the talk” where the discussion on electrified vehicles are exhibited at the Auto Expo”.

Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure, Government of Germany expressed that policies regarding electrifica on of automobiles need to be interna onally harmonizing.

Chief guest of the GEMS 2020, Mr. Arun Goel, Secretary, Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises, Govt. of India, said, “While I echo the sen ments of SIAM about the challenges for the industry, India has been playing a subordinate role up to an extent. We need to harness our talent pool to see how we build vehicles and solu ons from the grounds-up.

Electrifica on is an opportunity which auto industry in India can tap to become a true maker”.

While discussing on the theme of Country's Electrifica on Policy Framework and Market Update, the Japanese delega on led by Mr. Takamasa Murakami, Director, Ministry of Economy, Trade & Industry, Government of Japan shared their views on the long-term electrifica on policies being implemented in Japan are suppor ng all electrified technologies, and going forward, how much of these policies can be helpful for India, if adopted. The Germany Session was led by Mr Adam Mutwil, Deputy Director Division Electric Mobility, Federal

The French Session led by Mr Patrick Pillon, Deputy Head of Regional Economic Service, French Embassy in India saw eminent industry leader Mr Venkatram Mamilapalle, Country CEO & Managing Director, and Mr Claude Cham, President, FIEV, (French Vehicle Equipment Industries Associa on); discussed on the theme, 'France, India and Electric Mobility- Vision and Perspec ves', talked about partnership of trust between Industry and Government is the essence.

The road ahead will need full convic on, hundred percent commitment and total perseverance.

The 2nd day of the summit saw power packed thema c panels such as global policy stakeholders from UK, Germany and India. Stalwarts of Automo ve CXOs talked about industry pathway to electrifica on. At this panel, Mr Pravin Agrawal, Joint Secretary, Department of Heavy Industry said “our country is amongst top few na ons who had commenced on the journey of electrifica on since 2013 by way of launching na onal mission on electric mobility. We feel proud and happy to see that electric mobility is taking its shape.

However, it would be a journey and evolu on would happen”.

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News Buzz

India Pavilion Inaugurated By Consul General Of India, Frankfurt, Germany At Ambiente 2020

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mbiente 2020 got underway at Frankfurt in the august presence of Ms. Mudita Mishra, Addl. Development Commissioner [Handicra s], Smt. Pra bha Parkar, Consul General of India in Frankfurt, Germany, Shri R. K. Verma, Execu ve Director – EPCH and other member of COA –EPCH, Shri. Sudhir Kumar Tyagi, Shri. Prince Malik, Shri Sharad Bansal and Shri Rajesh Kumar Jain, Social Media Convenor – EPCH. The fair will be held from 07 – 11 February, 2020.

It is a great opportunity for India to showcase its incomparable diversity, rich culture, tradi on of arts and cra s at such a big pla orm like Ambiente.

Ambiente Fair held at Frankfurt every year in the month of February is one of the oldest established and well known fairs for presenta on of new products, new trends and new innova ons.

More than 4500 companies from 80 countries par cipate in this fair. The fair a racts around 1,50,000 trade visitors.

Majority of the items displayed at the fair

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are houseware, decora ve, home furnishing, fashion accessories, Christmas decora on and wooden handicra s etc.

This year, more than 500 Indian companies are par cipa ng in Ambiente 2020.

Out of the 500 Indian Companies, EPCH set-up an exclusive handicra s pavilion along with 68 par cipants in the show displaying exquisite Christmas Decora on, Fashion jewellery, wooden handicra s items, tex les furnishing, leather products, lamps and ligh ng, ceramics, and bathroom accessories. O/o Development Commissioner [Handicra s] has deputed four Master Cra smen to performing live demonstra on of cra skill of Madhubani Pain ng from Bihar, Metal Engraving from Delhi, Pa achitra, Tosser & Palm Leaf Carving and Tassar Pain ng from Orissa informed Shri Rakesh Kumar, Director General-EPCH. India’s par cipa on will add to the vibrancy and diversity of the fair and familiarize global manufacturers, retailers

and brands with the robust entrepreneurship in Indian tex les, apparel and consumer products industry and will open up opportuni es for sourcing and investment in India.

Smt. Mudita Mishra, Addl. Development Commissioner [Handicra s] elaborated that such representa on of diversified handicra s in Interna onal fair like Ambiente will help to develop handicra s market in Germany and other countries.

Shri Kumar further elaborated that Germany is major market for Indian products and hence Ambiente is an important marke ng medium for Indian companies world over. India’s exports of handicra s to the European Union was US $ 802.06 million in 2018-19 which is 21.09 % of total handicra s exports registering a growth of 5.36% in dollar terms over the previous year.

The exports to this region have been on increase for past few years. Out of total handicra s exports of EU, Germany alone accounts for US$195.77 Million. Focus on India at this fair will help in further boos ng exports.

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5th Interna onal Welding Congress & Weld India 2020 Concludes On A High Note

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he IIW-India's Mumbai Chapter organized 5th Interna onal Welding Congress & 13th Weld India Exhibi on in associa on with the Interna onal Ins tute of Welding from 6th February to 9th February 2020 in Mumbai received a highly encouraging response in terms of par cipa on by exhibitors and the visitors.

Weld India 2020 an exhibi on of leading welding equipment & consumable

showcased cu ng edge technology in India. Weld India 2020 also showcased new genera on automated welding technology which integrates with the produc on lines reducing power consump on and the welding me by up to 50%, enabling savings of 20% to 30 % in average welding costs and recovery of investment in a short span of around 40 months.

Expo also showcased the latest technologies that have developed globally to meet the challenges and the par cipa on of various Industries and the Training Ins tute gave an opportunity to thousands of industrial Visitors and the Delegates to understand the new techniques that can be used to reduce the gap in the needs of the skill development.

Informing about IC 2020 held

simultaneously with WeldIndia Expo Mr. Suresh Agrawal - Treasurer at IIW, Mumbai & MD of Shree Kailaji Alloys Pvt. Ltd. said, “Industries were benefited largely by associa ng with the conferences held for 3 days, as over 150 Technical papers were presented and an opportunity was created by The IIW India to the Indian Industries by bringing over 250 highly experienced persons from all over the world to interact with the Indian Industries so that The Indian Government Mission of Make In India is achieved at all levels.”

Mr. Agrawal further added, “With an overwhelming response we received at this expo, we all at The Indian Ins tute of Welding are encouraged to take our next exhibi ons to s ll greater heights.”

NEC Launches Sustainable Graphics Range For Organisers

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he NEC Commercial Graphics department has launched a sustainable range as part of its offer to organisers looking for more environmental op ons. The on-site team manages the produc on, delivery and installa on of graphic solu ons to organisers and as part of the NEC's sustainable ini a ve, NEC Sustain; offering a greener alterna ve was an impera ve.

used in the manufacturing process.

NEC Sustain is the NEC's all-encompassing sustainability programme that constantly looks at ways to make events more sustainable. The programme has been running for over 10 years and has enabled the NEC to introduce a whole host of waste and energy saving ini a ves designed to lead the way in eco event produc on and management.

The sustainable graphics range uses a PVC free composite board that can be made into any type of display solu on that would tradi onally use mber and includes wall sec ons, wedges and direc onal signage. The boards are 100% recyclable in all conven onal waste-paper recycling streams and FSC cer fied; which means the raw material is sourced from managed forests. The core of the board is made of approximately 75% virgin fibre and 25 % recycled fibre and is produced with a small amount of waste, approximately 97% of all raw materials are

Once a show is finished the board is recycled as part of the NEC's comprehensive recycling policy. The recyclable material is then transported to a second plant in Wolverhampton where it undergoes further sor ng and grading and is then bulked and enters the commodi es market. The remaining waste is u lised as Waste to Energy and generates electricity for homes and businesses in the Birmingham area. Any residual ash from the Waste to Energy process is used in road building schemes.Jane Carter, Head of Commercial

Graphics said: “The NEC is commi ed to sustainability and offering organisers a more environmentally sensi ve op on is really important to us. However, we recognised when sourcing materials and suppliers that a sustainable range had to deliver on crea vity and flexibility.

We are very excited about the new sustainable range because it offers organisers a green alterna ve without any compromises.” Opened in 1976, the NEC has grown significantly in size and reputa on, to become the UK's venue of choice for organisers, exhibitors and visitors.

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News Buzz

7th Edi on SVUM 2020 Interna onal Trade Show At Rajkot, Gujarat

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he 7th Edi on of SVUM 2020 Interna onal Trade Show is being organized from 11th - 13th February 2020 at Rajkot, Gujarat, India.

Come February, at least 150 delegates from 30 countries will descend in Rajkot to take part in Interna onal Business Show, organised by Saurashtra Vyapar Udyog Mahamandal (SVUM), a Rajkot-based nongovernment organisa on. The five-day show, touted as first of its kind in Saurashtra region, will be held on NSIC ground star ng February 11.

Several stalls will be put up, both by foreign and domes c companies, as part of the exhibi on. According to ParagTejura, president of SVUM, foreign companies have booked more than 30 stalls at the event, a first for the region.

This includes 10 stalls of Slovakia, 15 of Afghanistan and six of Iraq.The events will include presenta ons by foreign

delegates, seminars, presenta on of exporter's award under 57 different categories, etc. Among the par cipa ng countries are 15 African and five European (Belarus, Slovakia, Uzbekistan, Portugal and Czech Republic), said Tejura. Besides these, delega ons from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and others will also a end the trade show. The delegates will be in Rajkot for at least five days.

There will be an exhibi on on the first three days, while on the next two days, SVUM will provide free service and assistance to delegates to visit factories/offices of local businesses for one-to-one mee ng and plant visit of companies they are interested in doing business with.

A special workshop to educate and provide assistance and knowhow to farmers/entrepreneurs to explore lucra ve

farming opportuni es in African countries will also be organised. It is expected to be a ended by around 100 farmers. Apart from foreign delegates, domes c organisa ons like Gujarat State Plas c Manufacturers Associa on, Vadodara Chamber of Commerce and Industry, The Indian Ins tute of Architects, Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry and SME Chamber of India are also associated with the expo. Dignitaries, including high commissioners and poli cal leaders from African countries, will also be present.

Vibrant Kongu Nadu Coimbatore Global Expo And Summit 2020

he Vibrant Kongu Nadu Coimbatore Global Expo and Summit 2020 (VKC GES 2020) will be held in Coimbatore from 16-18 October, 2020. The Vibrant Coimbatore Founda on, in partnership with Global Network, an interna onal trade advisory firm, is organizing this event.

a common pla orm to discuss, share, debate and celebrate the best of key focus sectors of Kongu Nadu to bridge the gap between Kongu Nadu industries and other na onal as well as interna onal players. Key sectors of focus are as follows: agro and food processing; FMCG and consumer goods; tex les and apparels; IT (informa on technology); light engineering; automo ve engineering and components; heavy engineering; start-ups and start-up ins tu ons; gems and jewellery; educa on; building materials, construc on and real estate; aerospace and defence; tourism and wellness; services and other sectors.

The interna onal expo will focus on mul sectoral prac cal opportuni es for KonguNadu, bringing importers, investors, key sectoral manufacturers, technologists, service providers and traders together on

The prime focus of Vibrant Kongu Nadu Coimbatore Global Expo and Summit 2020 (VKC GES 2020) is inclusive development in key areas such as innova on, sustainability, industries,

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technology, youth and skill development, knowledge sharing and networking.

VKC GES 2020 will be one of a kind display expo something that has never been witnessed by the people of Kongu Nadu Coimbatore and its industry. This display shall be sharing all the developments, newer projects and vision of growth.

The knowledge summit at VKC GES 2020 will be organized concurrently with the Expo with an aim to bridge the gap between Kongu Nadu Coimbatore industries and other na onal as well as interna onal players. Moreover, interna onally acknowledged and successful Tamilians hailing from over 40 different countries shall be making a memorable visit to their na ve soil. VKC GES 2020 will be organized from October 16-18, 2020.

News Buzz

3rd Edi on Of Renewable Energy Growth Forum In Colombo, Sri Lanka Held Successfully

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nforma Markets in India, India's leading B2B exhibi ons organizer organized the 3rd edi on of Renewable Energy Growth Forum from 13-14th February 2020 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Supported by Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, Chamber of Construc on Industry in Sri Lanka, the forum deliberated and discussed the poten al of the Renewable Energy (RE) industry, policies and trends, global market overview, renewable energy opportuni es in Sri Lanka, project financing and beyond.

Speaking on the 3rd edi on of RE Growth Forum - Sri Lanka Chapter, Mr. Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director, for Informa Markets in India said, "Sri Lanka has been one of the fastest growing economies in South Asia in recent years and has seen a sharp rise in energy use and demand over the past decade as it transi ons from a

predominantly rural agricultural economy to an urban economy.

The increasing economic growth has also resulted in a corresponding increase in demand for energy within the country, a demand set to rise with the country's present service and manufacturing-oriented economy. The country is steering towards a sustainable and alternate solu on which is available within its boundaries through renewable energy resources. What it needs is the support and collabora on from the public and private sectors to boost the use of solar and hydro-power.

Against this landscape, the Renewable Energy Growth Forum provides interna onal a endees a pla orm to network, develop the knowledge arena, be informed on latest trends, best prac ces, and innova ve solu ons, engage in a balance technology mix and discuss the roadmap ahead.

In just our 3rd edi on we have seen the visi ng delega on growth by 100%. This year too, we look forward to frui ul collabora ons and an unparalleled experience with our Sri Lanka Chapter."

Over the course of 2 days, companies dealing in solar, wind & bio-products, enterprises, banks, investors, u li es, power producers, roo op and ground moun ng solu on providers, system integrators, importers and exporters, and freight forwarder among other supply chain groups and Government

officials joined hands to address the demand of electricity and futuris c technologies. The conference put together two days of power-packed sessions.

Day 1 discussed topics such as 'Ligh ng the Future - How leaders are making a difference' that talked about Policy and Trends, Global Market overview, Bilateral trade benefits, Opportuni es in Sri Lanka and Project financing and Beyond; 'A Bilateral partnership for Global Solu ons Mission 2020 & Beyond' that harped about the growth of technology that has resulted in mul -fold opportuni es through boundaries and beyond; a presenta on on 'Technology Advantage'; ' Financing for Development - Pain ng a brighter future together' this panel session discussed the most important and integral part of the project which speaks from micro to macro levels, the delibera ons touched various aspects of FINANICING foreseeing the project Development; 'Shaping the Future: Technology Updates & Innova ons' wherein Innovators showcased new and emerging technologies and best prac ces to be er power and manage Solar & Energy Storage project; ' Increasing Solar Adop on - To Go Distributed or U lity Scale.

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DefExpo Witnesses Signing Of Over 200 MoUs, ToTs And Product Launches UP Should Emerge As Defence Manufacturing Hub, Says Raksha Mantri

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ver 200 partnerships involving Signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs), Transfer of Technology (ToTs), Product launches were concluded on the third day of DefExpo 2020, at ceremony lted “Bandhan”, making it the most successful such events to be held in India. The pacts, aimed at forging and renewing partnerships for innova ve collabora on, and transforma on of the Defence manufacturing in the country were inked by representa ves of various DPSUs, Indian private Defence cos and foreign companies in the presence of Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh and Chief Minister of U ar Pradesh Shri Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow.

Raksha Mantri described the signing of MoUs as a step in the direc on to achieve Prime Minister’s $5 billion defence exports target in next 5 years.

The Defence PSUs and the Indian defence private industry were be er placed today to lead India as the emerging R&D hub of the world leveraging the sharp minds of Indian youth. The liberalised licensing regime brought out by the government would surely a ract large investments by both Indian and global companies, he stressed. Shri Rajnath Singh thanked all the stakeholder who signed MoUs and expressed hope that U ar Pradesh would emerge as a Defence Manufacturing hub.

Among those MoUs signed, 23 of them were by U ar Pradesh Government. Chief Minister of U ar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath said these MoUs envisage Rs 50,000 crores investment in the defence corridor setup in the state and generate 3 lakh job opportuni es. He assured that investments coming to the state were secure and the state investment policy was the most a rac ve in the country. He also announced that HAL would soon supply Dornier 19-seater civilian aircra to

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U.P. Dr. Ajay Kumar, Defence Secretary said that this DefExpo would be remembered for many firsts – including for the signing of largest number of MoUs, ToTs and product launches.

Bandhan ceremony witnessed more than 13 product launches, 124 MoUs between DPSUs, private and global defence manufacturing companies.

23 MoUs were signed between the UP Government and private companies.

Shri Sateesh Reddy, Secretary, Chairman of Defence Research and Development Organisa on, said that it was DRDO’s duty to ensure that the Defence corridor in U ar Pradesh flourishes, hence DRDO signed a Technological partnership agreement with the state government, impar ng skill training, hand holding and providing guidance in all aspects related to technology. A collabora on cell was already setup in the state to facilitate the process.

He also men oned that a Research and Development centre would be setup in the state that would act as a catalyst with respect to defence development.

Technology transfer was made available at no cost to companies in order to further the defence ecosystem in the country.

Further, the patents held by DRDO were given free to Indian companies to further develop technologies that would benefit Indian companies. During the course of the ceremony, a major announcement in the form of issuing the Ini al Opera onal

Clearance (IOC) cer ficate of Light U lity Helicopter (LUH) was issued to Hindustan Aeronau cs Limited (HAL). LUH is designed and developed as a replacement for Cheetah & Chetak helicopters which are currently being operated by Indian Armed forces. LUH is a new genera on helicopter in the 3-Ton class incorpora ng the stateof-the-art technology features which will meet the emerging needs in this class of helicopters in the coming decades. OFB launched “Sharang” the 155mm ar llery gun with 36 km range and handed over a model to Chief of Army Staff Gen M M Naravane. OFB also launched JVPC Alpha gun with 100 mt range, Light Machine Gun of 800 mt range and UBGL – Under barrel Grenade launcher.

BDL launched Amogha-3 the an -Tank Guided Missile. It is a man portable fire and forget missile. BDL also launched Varunastra – the an -submarine torpedo, manufactured under the technological guidance of DRDO. Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Shripad Naik, Shri Sa sh Mahana, Minister for Industrial Development, UP government and Shri Awanish Kumar Awasthi, CEO UPEIDA were also present during the ceremony.

News Buzz

Interna onal Tex le Machinery Exhibi on Held in Ethiopia organized by Indian ITME Society in partnership with the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associa ons (ECCSA).

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Over 100 exhibitors from 15 African, Asian and European countries showcased their products during the exhibi on.

Seminars, business-to-business mee ngs, cultural shows, and networking dinners aimed at crea ng connec ons among the business community have been part of the event.

Themed "Prosperity for Africa through Tex le Technology," the event was

ITME aims to ini ate "a revolu on" in technology, upgrading entrepreneurship and investments in tex les across east Africa and beyond, ECCSA related. The

he first ever Interna onal Tex le Machinery and Engineering Exhibi on (ITME-Africa 2020) has been successfully held at the Millennium Hall in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 14 to 16 February.

exhibi on also hopes to be instrumental in establishing Africa’s tex le footprints prominently across the globe. Being Ethiopia's second-largest investment partner as a na on with an approved investment of over $4 billion, India's total trade with Ethiopia stood at $1.27 billion in 2017-18. Out of this, a staggering $1.22 billion has been India's export to Ethiopia, while Ethiopia's export to India accounted for $45 million, as per the annual report of Ethiopia's Na onal Bank.

India's premier industry body for the tex le machinery sector inaugurated its first-ever event in Africa on 14 February 2020 with guest of honour Dorothy Tembo, ac ng Execu ve Director of the Interna onal Trade Centre, delivering a special opening address.

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4 Edi on Of India Expo Shop 2020 At BIEC, Bengaluru

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ndia's premier pla orm for exhibi on, event and retail design industry exhibi on. Indian Exhibi ons, Conferences & Events Service Associa on (IESA) is organizing its 4th edi on of INDIA EXPO SHOP 2020 from 6th to 8th August, 2020 at BIEC, Bengaluru, India.

About IESA - The associa on was formed in the year 2014 and registered under Socie es Registra on Act XXI of 1860 with the objec ve of finding solu ons to the issues faced by the fraternity and promote service providers in the exhibi on industry at large extent. IESA's family completed with 350 plus members from 28 major ci es of India. All the members of the associa on are the backbone of Indian Exhibi on, Conferences & Events industry.

India Expo Shop 2020 is set to welcome 200 par cipa ng and more than 5000 visitors from across the globe. Here they will experience warm hospitality at its finest, as well as the latest products/services/technologies of exhibi on industry mainly use by service

providers. That's' why IES 2020 aspires to create a meaningful exhibi on that will benefit everything from innova ons and technology to rela onships and business opportuni es.

The first three edi ons of India Expo Shop were co-located and concurrent with the Global Exhibi on on Services (GES) which was supported by Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, Government of Maharashtra, Confedera on Of Indian Industry (CII) and Services Export Produc on Council (SEPC).

At the IES 2018 in Mumbai, Ms. Seema Srivastava- Execu ve Director, ITME India; Mr. Rajesh Bhagat- Managing Director, Worldex; Mr. Manish Gandhi- Director, ABEC; Mr. J. Shankar from CII &Dr. Ashok Dhobale from IDA were inaugurated the expo and visited all the exhibitor's stalls to comprehend the exhibi ons service providers sector.

In 2020, this show will provide

manufacturers and suppliers of Hangers, octanorm, tent fabrics, Flooring, Wall Finishes, Visual & Video technologies, Furnitures, Electrical equipments, Stage Lights & Audio Systems, Design So wares, Security & Fire Systems, Wedding set Manufacturer, Digital Screens and Signage Solu ons, and many more segments of service providers related services to showcase their merchandise to discerning buyers from across the world. The IES trade show has emerged as the most important na onal & interna onal sourcing pla orm in India, which is used by big buyers.

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News Buzz

MEX Exhibi ons Announces First-ever Trade Show On Gi ing & Sta onery In Sri Lanka

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he organisers of the highly renowned Gi s World Expo are now taking the show to Colombo a er successful edi ons in New Delhi and Bengaluru. MEX Exhibi ons Pvt. Ltd., has announced the launch of Gi s World Expo + Sta onery Expo in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Scheduled from October 2-4, 2020, the show is designed to fill in the gap created by the absence of a trade show on gi ing and sta onery solu ons in the country. There are opportuni es galore for various players in this industry, and this Expo will act as a mee ng point where they would get an opportunity to understand the dynamics and gauge the requirements of their clients.

Commen ng on the launch, Mr. Gaurav Juneja, Director, MEX Exhibi ons Pvt. Ltd., said, “This show in Colombo is an effort towards crea ng an organised pla orm for the gi ing and sta onery fraternity in Sri Lanka. It gives me immense pleasure and pride to say that we are going to bring the first such show to the island country. It not only presents a sea of opportuni es for stakeholders but also offers them a space where they could interact with like-minded individuals who

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are working to promote the interests of gi ing industry.”

Gi s World Expo Colombo + Sta onery Expo is a replica on of the company's twin shows in New Delhi and Bengaluru, while also featuring certain new highlights, in tune with specific needs of Sri Lankan market.

Being an open market economy with high social indicators, Sri Lanka is a natural des na on for business for companies all over the world. A member of SAARC, it has strong es with various neighbours in the sub-con nent as well as deep economic bonds with countries such as US, UK, EU, Singapore and Germany. A developmental success story in many ways, Sri Lanka has transi oned into an upper middle-income country with a total popula on of 2.14 crores. These facts present a very rosy picture for investors and professionals eyeing the Sri Lankan market.

The exhibits at the show can be categorised under various heads, namely corporate gi ing, awards & trophies, home décor, handicra s, electronic gadgets, appliances, gourmet hampers,

gold & silver gi s etc. Besides these segments of exhibits, a special concurrent show dedicated to sta onery solu ons will also be unveiled at the venue.

Sta onery Expo will be a comprehensive des na on for sourcing all kinds of sta onery supplies, crea ng a one-stopshop for the en re community to congregate and network for pushing the industry to greater heights. The show will feature paper products, office & educa onal supplies, art supplies, wri ng instruments, office automa on etc.

It will facilitate sourcing from amongst unlimited op ons of sta onery supplies and will help bulk buyers keep their stocks ready for the coming year. Both the shows, main and concurrent, will assist the exhibitors in ge ng in touch with their target clientele through face to face mee ngs in a highly professional environment. These are designed to meet the requirements of a dynamic industry, where brands strive to offer something novel and innova ve to their customers on a regular basis. They will plug the gap between demand and supply and helps fulfill the evolving needs of buyers in the Sri Lankan marketplace.

News Buzz

Facili es Show India set to Debut in November 2020

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nforma Markets in India (formerly UBM India), India's leading B2B event organizer is all set to bring in the UK originated 'Facili es Show' to India in the month of November 2020, for the facili es management industry. The 1st edi on of the 'Facili es Show India' will act as a global hub for facili es and field service management professionals while introducing thousands of visitors to innova ons, solu ons and ideas within the sector and connec ng them with industry leaders.

Facili es Management (FM) refers to the use of third party services providers to maintain a part or the en re building facility in a professional manner. FM is classified into two categories - Hard Facili es Management Services and So Facili es Management Services. Hard services are ones which relate to the physical fabric of the building and cannot be removed. They ensure the safety and welfare of employees such as; hea ng, ligh ng, plumbing, fire safety systems and building maintenance to name a few and are required by law. On the other hand, So services are ones which make the workplace more pleasant or secure to

work in. Some of these may not be compulsory and can be added and removed as necessary such as waste management, catering, window cleaning, security and mail management.

The two-day Facili es Show India will bring together local and global manufacturers, suppliers, consultants, service providers and decision-makers from various facili es management ver cals looking to market or procure latest products and services. It will facilitate career development, networking, and sourcing cost-effec ve solu ons in sectors ranging from office design and maintenance to smart energy and ligh ng.

With new technologies such as green energy management and smart buildings crea ng a wealth of opportuni es, the show will give professionals access to educa on and thought leadership so they can engage with a constantly shi ing landscape. The show is supported by Telangana Electronic Manufacturing Industries Associa on.

A key highlight of the expo will be a twoday conference that will focus on the

challenges faced by Facility Managers, Admin and Opera ons Managers, Purchase Managers, Facility Technical Heads on cost management, manpower management, integrated facility management, automa on, security and new technologies/so ware.

Some of the likely topics to be discussed at the two-day conference includes: 'What's making India a hot-spot for coworking growth?'; 'Upskilling the facili es management staff - Need of the hour'; ‘The Future of Facili es is Digital - Are we ready to embrace the change?'; 'Smart building technology shaping the future of Real Estate'; 'Realigning workplace strategy for workplace wellbeing' to name a few.

At present, the organized FM services industry in India is valued at INR 50000 crore cons tu ng 10% of the total world market. This is expected to grow to INR 1.25 Lakh crore by 2022.

In India, FM services companies have only tapped 25% of the addressable market with 75% of this work s ll being undertaken in-house, a stark contrast to 49% at the global level.

27 | February | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

News Buzz

MEDICAlliance Starts The New Exhibi on Year With Medical Fair India 2020

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he 26th edi on of Medical Fair India 2020 will be launched from 5 to 7 March at the Bombay Conven on and Exhibi on Centre in Mumbai. It is India's leading healthcare exhibi on, conference and business pla orm. As part of the MEDICAlliance family of medical fairs, it is organised by Messe Düsseldorf India in coopera on with the team of the world's largest medical fair MEDICA. The Indian healthcare sector is diversifying and new opportuni es are emerging in each segment. Together with MEDICAlliance and in associa on with Associa on of Healthcare Providers, India (AHPI), Associa on of Indian Manufacturers of Medical Devices (AIMED), Associa on of Diagnos c Manufacturers of India (ADMI), Quality & Accredita on Ins tute (QAI), Prac cing Pathologists Society, The Associa on of Prac cing Pathologists (APP), Maharashtra Associa on Of Prac sing Pathologist & Microbiologists (MAPPM) and this edi on promises to bring together all the stakeholders from all facets of Medical and Healthcare Industry.

'MAKE IN INDIA' Pavilion formed by AIMED at Medical Fair India 2020 has always been a centre of a rac on at MFI

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exhibi on. Under the pioneering vision of Mr. Rajiv Nath, Founder, AIMED, he is the voice represen ng the interest of over 700 Manufacturers of Medical Devices to promote global harmoniza on and respect for the Indian Device Industry. Ms. Veena Kohli, President, Associa on of Diagnos cs Manufacturers of India con nues to lead the Clinlab conference. The conference will cover topics on In- Vitro Diagnos c, Laboratory medicine, Point of Care Tes ng, Molecular Medical Diagnos cs and Clinical Chemistry.

“Medical Fair India is well known for its ability to detect trends and respond to new innova ons. Therefore, each edi on is unique as it explores new sub-segments and opportuni es for diversifica on” said Thomas Schli , Managing Director, Messe Düsseldorf India.

Addi onally, the future for Health (FTR4H) conference this year at Medical Fair India will focus on how Digital Transforma on reconstructs Healthcare. NASSCOM – Center of Excellence – IoT& AI joins this year as its Digital Transforma on Partner and jointly with FTR4H will organize the Startup Awards. This year a rac on include par cipa on from Startups to showcase their solu on in the Healthcare

domain. The VOH 5th Interna onal Healthcare Conference at Medical Fair India is an important date on the na onal healthcare calendar. This year, the theme is 'SYNERGY, IDEA, COLLABORATION: UNLOCKING THE POTENTIAL OF INDIAN HEALTHCARE'. The overarching objec ve is to mobilize key stakeholders from both public and private sectors – along with their strengths and innova ons – on a common pla orm that can highlight bestways forward for everyone who holds a stake in the space. rehaindia, powered by REHACARE will con nue to feature alongside Medical Fair India. This segment will be dedicated to the rehabilita on sector in India.

News Buzz

Op c India An Invaluable Pla orm For Business Prospects the exhibitor and the trade visitor, making it a win-win event for all.

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oth the Exhibitors and the organisers had much to celebrate at the conclusion of Op c India 2020 as business was brisk with much to show for it at the end of the day. Many companies had chosen the premier interna onal trade fair and exhibi on in ophthalmic op cs to launch their new products, brands and collec ons in the country, and were very pleased indeed with the response and the many first- me customers. These outcomes reiterated the event's standing among professionals and companies as an invaluable pla orm for business prospects.

The exhibi on opened doors on 18thJanuary 2020 with the inaugura on ceremony by Abhilash Khara, president of the Mumbai Op cal Associa on and other office bearers. Shray Kumar from RSD Exposi ons, the organisers of the show, welcomed all the MOA's office bearers with colourful bouquets. The venue was buzzing at all mes as over 13,766 visitors were there to check out the latest in spectacle frames, sunglasses, op cal accessories, contact lenses and related accessories, hi-tech products, op cal and ophthalmic instruments, equipment, so ware, display systems and solu ons for op cal showrooms, op cal instruments, machinery for lenses and frames, computerised frame selec on systems, and raw materials.

All these were showcased to great effect in smartly done up stalls spread over two

floors, in a se ng that was on par with the best interna onal standards. There was plenty to take in at the more than 200 stalls, the Indian companies from all over the country joined by some from Hong Kong, Korea and China. Of these, 25 per cent were new exhibitors, reflec ng the strong growth of the sector in India and the esteem in which Op c India is held.

The machinery stalls from China, Malaysia, South Korea and the US too were a big draw.

Great networking opportuni es!

Much else was happening at the show hosted at the CIDCO Exhibi on Centre, a state-of-the-art exhibi on and conven on centre in Vashi, Navi Mumbai, during 18 – 20January 2020. Product launches and great displays, new concepts and business channels, great networking opportuni es, the latest innova ons, technology and trends – everything was s mula ng for

The many new product launches at the fair included coa ng materials by Don Co Ltd from South Korea; Op med with their collec ons of See Saw Kids Eyewear and Steve Madden; Pearl Enterprise who exhibited Monogram and McLaren; Luxo ca's Vogue Man collec on; Stylrite Op cal's Azur by Morel and home brand Giorgio Lite; Stepper's Tec Rimless; Spark Vision's Pi & Mi S ck-on Clip-ons for kids and Teen Plus Teenager Collec on under its Pi & Mi brand; Bhagat ISpace: TEDDY kids polarized sunglasses; Cifu India Interna onal Trading Pvt Ltd's Firebird eyewear; Hunani Products's Op clean lens spray and cleaning cloth; Jaggi Brothers showing Shanghai Huvitz Co Ltd's CRI Auto-refractometer and Indian Slit Lamp DR-12, Step by Jaggi (home brand); Prime Op cs with Uninox 1.57 An fog HMC, Drive Clear Lenses 1HD PRO, 1.57 Aspheric with super blue coa ng; and Op kam Tech Inc's Op kampad digital dispensing so ware.

The sponsors, a touch of glam and mega prizes Luxo ca was the main sponsor of Op c India 2020. The many co-sponsors included Suprol, Pi & Mi , RKOS, Sprint, Sco , Provo Eyewear, The Monarch Enterprises and Mania Eyewear. The lanyard for visitor badges was sponsored

by Scavin Interna onal Exim Pvt Ltd of Delhi.

Many at the show were delighted to spot famous Bollywood actor Vivek Oberoi, the recently appointed brand ambassador for Yash Lenses. Another major a rac on was a lucky draw conducted by Luxo ca for dealers of their Luxury and Premium brands. The Grand prize was a MG Hector Automa c car which was won by Gujarat Chashmaghar. Addi onally, there were other exci ng prizes such as six Top Zonal prizes comprising Bose Lifestyle 600 Home Entertainment Systems and 30 Rado Automa c watches.

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News Buzz

ACREX 2020 To See Par cipa on Of Around 400 Exhibitors From 30 Countries

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round 400 exhibitors from hea ng, ven la on and air condi oning (HVAC) segment from 30 countries are expected to par cipate in the Acrex India 2020 which will be held at Greater Noida from February 27-29, organisers said.The three-day event, which showcases new concepts in the HVAC segment, is expected to see a foo all of 30,000 people.

“This year we are focusing on indoor air quality. We were expec ng par cipa ng on around 500 exhibitors expec ng par cipa ng on around 500 exhibitors but now dueto coronavirus outbreak, Chinese en es have pulled out of the event. So it is going to be around 400 par cipants this me around from around 30 countries," Acrex India 2020 Chairman Sushil K Choudhury said.

The event, which is touted as the largest

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exhibi on of HVACHVAC segment, is being organised by Indian Society of Hea ng, Refrigera ng and Air Condi oning Engineers (ISHRAE) in partnership with NurnbergMesse India.

The highlight of the show would be a live exhibi ocusiing on advanced techniques of designing new homes featuring mechanical systems that support and accentuate natural ven la on, Choudhury said."As we showcase this exhibit to architects, builders,owners and policy makers in the government sector, we can help improve the lives and health of our fellow ci zens byadvoca ng for formula on of suitable policies and guidelines," he added.

Commen ng on the opportuni es that ACREX India offers, NuernbergMesse India

Chairperson of the Board and Managing Director Sonia Prashar said: "The Indian HVAC market is is quickly racing to surpass the USD 6 billion mark in the next five years making it impera ve for every manufacturer in the interna onal market to vie for a space in the Indian subcon nent.”ACREX India 2020 creates a valuable pla orm for all connected to the HVAC & R industry to reach relevantstakeholders and decision makers, she added.

Reshma

Deepak Sakpal

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News Buzz

INDIAWOOD 2020 Witnesses Great Success – NürnbergMesse India Brings Renewed Hope To Industry

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pread over 65,000 sq. meters plus area with 5 dedicated themed halls and 12 country pavilions from Canada, China, Germany, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Malaysia, Russia, Taiwan, Turkey, Sweden, USA, the 11th edi on of INDIAWOOD, organized by NürnbergMesse India, kickstarted on a grand note. More than 875 exhibitors from over 50 countries have par cipated in the show. For the first me ever, INDIAWOOD 2020 has also featured NürnbergMesse India’s latest addi on, INDIA MATTRESSTECH & UPHOLSTERY SUPPLIES EXPO which complements INDIAWOOD perfectly with new pavilions featuring ma ress and upholstery produc on technology, machinery & supplies.

It is significant to note that despite challenging mes for the global exhibi on industry, NürnbergMesse India has pulled off all its shows in a staggering style. The shows have been extremely successful reflec ng the power and significance of

our industry. NürnbergMesse India successfully executed an impressive line up of events – Acrex India, Fire and Security India Expo – FSIE, INDIAWOOD and the newest addi on – India Ma resstech Expo.

Sonia Prashar, Chairperson & Managing Director, NürnbergMesse India shared, “INDIAWOOD is a significant event that brings an altogether new experience like never before. It is the biggest ever, not-to-bemissed, all-encompassing forum for business, networking and insights on market and technology across the woodworking fraternity.

From upskilling the carpenters to discovering innova ve solu ons to forging strategic brand alliances, INDIAWOOD 2020 is the place to be.”

The five-day mega show features Furniture Produc on Technologies, Woodworking Machinery, Tools, Fi ngs, Accessories, Raw Materials and Products.

It is being held from February 27 ll March 2, 2020 at Bangalore Interna onal Exhibi on Centre, Bengaluru.

The show focuses on carpentry, skilling, innova on, automa on and digitaliza on with the aim to drive Indian furniture manufacturing and woodworking industry and establish India as one of the top manufacturing des na ons in the region, in sync with Government of India’s ‘Make in India’ vision. “We are delighted to present the 11th edi on of INDIAWOOD, which has witnessed remarkable growth.

The 2020 edi on is expected to bring more exhibitors, visitors and newer technology and innova ons to the forefront and will con nue to remain the most important mee ng place for the woodworking Industry in the Indian subcon nent,” said Peter O mann, CEO,

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News Buzz NürnbergMesse GmbH. Embraced by top interna onal companies like BIESSE, FELDER, GRASS, HAFELE, HETTECH, HOMAG, REHAU, RENNER ITALIA, SCM & many more from various product categories, INDIAWOOD 2020 is all set to fuel the poten al of the Indian wood working industry and establish the highest benchmarks in the exhibi ons area.

As the woodworking industry’s pioneering show, INDIAWOOD is organizing mul ple seminars on latest trends and innova ons including subjects like ‘raw material sourcing’. There shall also be skill development programs by the Furniture & Fi ngs Skill Council of India.

Jürgen Köppel, President – Eumabois, con nues to remain upbeat about the scope of the Indian market and the opportuni es it offers. “Indian manufacturers are upgrading their produc on and developing new business models as India transi ons from developing to an advanced economy.

INDIAWOOD is an essen al event for the

Indian woodworking technology market, and on display are the latest innova ons and trends. We look forward to mee ng all the stakeholders in Bengaluru,” he said.

badge upon pre-registering; furthermore, visitors can also set business mee ngs through the INDIAWOOD APP.

Visitors from all quarters including furniture manufacturers, kitchen manufacturers, saw millers, board manufacturers, fi ngs and component manufactures, traders, architects, builders and interior designers have been preregistering for the event with great enthusiasm. They can look forward to the latest in technologies, materials and innova ons over the five-day event. The show a racts visitors from all across the country and neighboring countries such as Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal and the Middle East.

To enhance the visitor experience, INDIAWOOD has also introduced a customized & personalized visitor

Updates From Ministry Of Tourism, Government Of India On The Novel Coronavirus the situa on and has put in place adequate health surveillance systems for detec on and disease control.

Entry screening for travelers from affected countries are at place at airports and sea ports in the country.

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he Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India would like to apprise you about the situa on and measures taken by the Government of India in the wake of the Novel Coronavirus outbreak in China and its spread to other countries. The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW), Govt. of India is very closely monitoring

32 | February | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

All possible steps have been taken to create awareness on the outbreak amongst the tourism industry stakeholders and accordingly the Tourism and Health Ministries are working closely to combat the spread of the Coronavirus within the country including all tourism des na ons.

The Government is vigilant to ensure that the safety of all ci zens and tourists alike are being looked a er at all mes.·Specific advisories for travelers visi ng China and arriving from China have been issued.

MoHFW has set up a 24x7 Helpline for Coronavirus : 91-11-23978046. The Helpline Email ID for corona-virus is ncov2019@gmail.com We would like to assure you and all visitors to the country that India remains a safe des na on and looks forward to receiving tourists.

The Tourism and Health Ministries are working closely to combat the spread of the Coronavirus within the country including all tourism des na ons. The Government is vigilant to ensure that the safety of all ci zens and tourists alike are being looked a er at all mes.

News Buzz

Winners Of MEA 2020 Spotlight The Redefined Roles In Adver sing business, member of MEA 2020 jury panel, a mega icon and a widelycelebrated ad guru currently serving as the Founder and Chief Crea ve Officer at Hyper Collec ve, Mr KV Sridhar aka.

'Pops', shared: “Today, crea vity is the new currency of business. There is no successful business which does not value crea vity. Crea vity and business have a natural blend.”

A message directed towards entrepreneurs and marketers of tomorrow, Pops further illustrated the significance of building an experien al brand in this modern era: “Experience is equal to a brand today.

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celebratory evening recognising the outstanding endeavours behind the most innova ve and out-of-box brand campaigns, Media Expo Excellence Awards (MEA) 2020 garnered presence from the who's who of the industry to witness the honours in indoor and outdoor adver sing and signage industry at the 46th edi on of Media Expo on 20th February 2020.

With a fair and transparent evalua on process officially tabulated by Ernst and Young (EY), a jury panel comprising of illustrious figures from the industry assessed the 'best from the rest nomina ons of brilliant ad campaigns from numerous brands, agencies, and vendors based on the criteria of crea vity, originality, and innova on.

A er a remarkable demonstra on of original ideas, inven ve approach, and impeccable execu on, the winnersof MEA 2020 were awarded for their exemplary works in various campaigns, such as the Raymond's Apparel Ltd–Creaseless Display Unit by Brand mark Solu ons Pvt Ltd which went on to bag the 'Innova ve Display of Brand through POS / POP'award for their innova ve concept and design.

Incredible campaign by iBall India

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executed for their Smart Charge Power bank won them the honour of Innova ve Use of Ambient Media', owing to their apt

choice of loca on and for producing a cap va ng chemistry through their crea vity and brief which really impressed the jury.

For their brilliant contribu on in 'Save the Girl Child' campaign, Kalpak Crea ve Adver sing grabbed the 'Best Vendor' award for Innova ve POP Solu ons / Products'. However, the real show stealer of MEA 2020 turned out to be the Times Now LIVE elec on broadcast campaign by Times Innova ve Media Ltd who through a perfect culmina on of crea ve idea and spot-on execu on bagged the Innova ve Use of Digital Signages as well as the 'Agency of the Year award.

Surmising over the significance of crea vity in the modern world of

Therefore, customer experience will be a defining factor to whether your business can survive in the long run or not. My message for them is to 'Strive to build a more customer centric company'.”

The efforts to equally recognise the vendors as hand-in-hand contributors was applauded by all. A prominent member of the MEA 2020 jury, a crea ve idol and a formidable leader in the mainstream adver sing currently serving as the Cofounder and Chief Crea ve Officer at Tidal7, Mr KS Chakravarthy, aka.

Chax, also shared his insights on this generous ini a ve: “I absolutely love this effort through MEA. Because as technology and innova on open up new possibili es every day to break through clu er and bring a message alive vividly and memorably, vendors are no longer suppliers of hardware or space, but partners in crea vity.”

With lots of takeaways, MEA 2020 emerged as both a rewarding and a learning pla orm for all its nominees and a endees alike. The event itself received tons of praises for apprecia ng and magnifying an innova ve and crea ve vision in the adver sing industry.

News Buzz

The Impact Of The Coronavirus On The US & Global Exhibi on Industry

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conversa on took place on last week’s Twi er #Expochat, devo ng the en re discussion to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and its impact on the US and global exhibi on industry. Industry leaders Kai Ha endorf, MD/CEO of UFI, David Audrain, Execu ve Director of SISO, and Julius Solaris from Ski ’s EventMB joined me as moderator. PCMA also was ac ve on the chat.

Large exhibitors in the US and Europe are cancelling booths and sponsorships due to fears of the virus spreading – or is it because they are afraid of being sued if employees take ill? Italy just announced some unprecedented closures. A number US shows are seeing 10% or more of their shows wiped out as Chinese exhibitors are unable to make the journey to the US. Chinese venues and shows all over Asia are having a devasta ng first quarter of 2020.

It's important to note that far more shows are taking place than are being cancelled.

Exhibi ons are the lifeblood of many, many industries around the world – and countless SME’s. Our exhibitors depend

on shows to see current clients, meet prospec ve customers and promote their services, products and equipment for the next year or selling season. Visitors use expos to be educated, see what's new, and make purchases to remain successful in their businesses. ISE in Amsterdam took a hit but have now re-booked even more space for 2021. I applaud how ISE combated social media pressure by cleverly using those same social media channels to their advantage and enlis ng exhibitors in those efforts.

Gulfood in Dubai had over 100,000 a endees last week too. According to TSNN.com CONEXPO-Con/AGG a triennial exhibi on covering over 2.7 million square feet (270,000 m2) taking place in Las Vegas this March, is not expec ng a significant nega ve effect on their event. The New York Toy Fair just wrapped up a very busy expo, even though many of its Chinese exhibitors were unable to be there. During the Chat, Kai shared, “The impact of the Coronavirus will be felt for a long me to come. We will prove again the power of face-to-face. But we will see pressure on the business models, and

more diverse revenue streams emerging.

We will bounce back and change as an industry. “ David followed up with, “I worry that exhibitors from shows that are canceled will find other marke ng mediums and ques on the value of the shows that were canceled.” With the recent news Sony has pulled out of other US shows taking place up through June, they may be doing just that. On a posi ve note, take a look what #BarcelonaTechSpirit did in just days a er #MWC was cancelled. I agree with both Kai and David that through this tragic pandemic our resilient industry will persevere – and transform. Your thoughts?

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News Buzz

Auto Expo Excellence Awards 2020: Best Global Debut - Volkswagen Taigun

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he 2020 Auto Expo had a plethora of global debuts in terms of concepts and even produc on ready models. But the one model that stood out was the Volkswagen Taigun. It is an India-specific model and forms a significant part of Volkswagen's SUVW strategy for India.

The 2020 Auto Expo had a bunch of global debuts. The lack of par cipants definitely did not dull the sheen of the Auto Expo. From concept showcases like the Haval Concept H, the Tata Sierra EV, Kia Sonet, Skoda Vision IN, Mahindra Funster to produc on ready models like the New-genera on Hyundai Creta, Hero Electric AE-47 and the Volkswagen Taigun, all these models were shown for the first me at the 2020 Auto Expo.

Choosing a winner for the best global debut was a welcome headache but a er much delibera on, the jury members did reach a consensus and voted for the Volkswagen Taigun, which was much deserving! The Volkswagen Taigun is a significant part of the Volkswagen Group's India 2.0 project,

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which will be led by Skoda Auto India.

The Taigun is an India-specific model and it has been pegged for a 2021 launch.

The Taigun will take on the likes of the Tata Harrier, Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos and the like. Of course the car showcased here was a pre-produc on unit and the final product will be showcased with a host of changes on it.

The model will be underpinned by the new MQB A0 IN pla orm that has been specifically developed for the Indian market.

The big difference though is that compared to the T-Cross, the Taigun for India will be longer, more spacious and more comfortable, keeping the Indian requirements in mind.The Volkswagen Taigun has definitely started off strong in terms of buzz and word-of-mouth. There is a lot of an cipa on and the model showcased was quite close to the produc on model as well. With the kind of interest that it has garnered, it will be a good idea to bring in the Volkswagen Taigun before its intended launch period

of mid-2021. The other reason is that compe tors like the new-genera on Creta and even the Skoda Vision IN will be launched by then and if the Taigun comes in later, it may not be able to cash in on the buzz created now. So yes! We believe there is strong case for the Taigun to be launched this year itself.

The new Volkswagen Taigun will be one of the four new SUVs that Volkswagen plans to bring in the next couple of years.

The Taigun is expected to draw power from the 1.0-litre turbocharged TSI petrol engine that will develop about 113 bhp and 200 Nm of peak torque.

Transmission op ons will include the 6speed manual and possibly the 7-speed DSG automa c gearbox too.

News Buzz

4 Case Studies: Using Facial Recogni on at Trade Exhibi ons

By Jo-Anne Kelleway, Founder and CEO, The Info Salons Group

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uch has been reported on the ques on of Facial Recogni on (FR) being used for easy check-in at exhibi ons. Info Salons first launched it's facial recogni on pla orm back in early 2018 and have been using it widely at shows throughout Greater Asia & the Middle East.

As one of the foremost authori es on facial recogni on for exhibi ons, Info Salons Group have produced four client case studies with different requirements, for your enjoyment.

Case Study 1: Entrance control for paid cke ngEvent: Design Shanghai, organised by Media 10, in Shanghai China Opportunity: Focused on bringing together excep onal design, quality and inspira on, Design Shanghai is Asia’s biggest design event welcoming visitors from across the world as well as some of the most recognised and established global design brands from China and beyond. Tickets for this coveted event are highly sought-a er which unfortunately led to admission ckets and exhibitor name badges being passed on to other

colleagues.Building on their exis ng rela onship, Media 10 enlisted Info Salons to help control the cke ng at the entrance to the event without the use of exit stamps or plas c bracelets.

Formulate & Build: Info Salons needed a way to ensure that a endees who had purchased ckets legally were treated with respect and speed, whilst stopping those ckets that were garnered through illegal scalpers or by passing ckets onto other colleagues. Our research found that in 99% of all cases, the cket purchaser went through the entry gates ini ally before passing ckets onto colleagues or friends. We used our specially enhanced entrance control gates which scanned the cket barcode and then immediately took a photo of the a endee. On any subsequent entry whenever the cket was scanned again, our so ware would check that the a endee matched the facial ID on record before allowing the gate to open.

The Prognosis: A Healthy Amount of Tickets SoldIt's no surprise that Design Shanghai con nues to grow in size and space. The Info Salons FR pla orm allowed 70,000 visitors from around the

world to quickly enter the event. Many visitors bought new ckets onsite when they were denied entry due to using someone else's cket or badge.

Case Study 2: Entrance control for security Event: NEPCON ASIA, organised by Reed Exhibi ons China, in Shenzhen, China Opportunity: NEPCON ASIA is one of the biggest product and technology procurement pla orms for the electronics manufacturing industry in China. Boas ng the longest standing history, it gathers over 800 leading brand names from around the globe together with 60,000 buyers, who par cipate in this world-class event. During the three-day event, trade visitors are exposed to the industry’s latest products and materials. By means of well-designed seminars and forums, visitors also have the opportunity to keep up-to-date on the latest trends and applica ons. A combina on of six exhibi ons in one, NEPCON ASIA serves as a channel via which the en re electronics manufacturing industry can connect.

Registra on requires full trade ID verifica on for this popular event. Due to the large a endance , name badges are

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News Buzz highly sought-a er which generated the undesirable prac ce of " cket scalping".

With a strong rela onship spanning more than 25 years and 3 con nents, Reed enlisted Info Salons to help control the entrance to the event, allowing only verified trade buyers or exhibitors entry and barring fake name badges.

Formulate & Build: Gathering informa on on a endees during the registra on process meant that we could s pulate the terms of entry; that being their facial ID was required to ensure that the name badge remained the ownership of the registrant. During registra on, a endees and exhibitors could simply upload or take a photo which was then saved within our system as a vectorised number.

Full security for personal data was maintained as no JPEG or picture was stored within the system. The Prognosis: Fast entry to validated trade visitors & exhibitorsInfo Salons Facial Recogni on hardware and pla orm allowed strict entrance control to only registered a endees and exhibitors with confidence knowing that their details were secure and that their name badges could not be forged.

Case Study 3: Badge prin ng using Fast Track Event: Ai Everything, organised by DWTC in Dubai, UAE Opportunity: An exhibi on marketplace of deployable AI solu ons, Ai Everything maximizes exposure within the AI ecosystem, helps startups raise capital and facilitates interac ons between key players. The exhibi on runs with an immersive Summit fuelled by power talks, networking and anima ons. Ai Everything also addresses AI’s impact on society and crucial AI challenges worldwide and in the Middle East.

Info Salons has been working with DWTC since we opened our office in Dubai in 2007. Providing state-of-the-art technology is essen al for this organiser, especially for Ai Everything which is touted as the Year’s Most An cipated &

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Empowering AI Summit for Governments, Businesses, Social Enterprises & the Crea ve Economy.

Formulate & Build: Deploying the Info Salons FR pla orm for Fast Track Badge Prin ng would enhance the overall experience for the a endees. We integrated our registra on system with the Amazon Rekogni on pla orm to provide highly accurate facial analysis and facial recogni on on images that the registrants provided.

We could thereby detect, analyse, and compare faces for verifica on. The system's deep learning technology is con nually trained on new data to expand its ability to recognize objects, scenes, and ac vi es to improve its ability to accurately recognize.

The Prognosis: A endees were delighted with the cu ng edge technology Fast track badge prin ng sta ons were built into the front-of-house structure at the event. A endees simply scanned their face or their barcode to instantly receive their printed name badge for the event.

According to Ms. Trixee LohMirmand, Senior Vice President DWTC, "In future AI shall reduce many ac vi es from days to minutes to seconds. With Info Salons integrated Amazon Teknology achievement of 8 seconds for a visitor registra on admission process is fascina ng. I'm delighted we partnered with Info Salons for Ai Everything in Dubai, one of the biggest AI events in the world.”

Case Study 4: Badge prin ng using Facial Recogni on Kiosks Event: Global Exhibi on CEO Summit, organised by Shanghai Conven on & Exhibi on Industries Associa on and UFI in Shanghai, China Opportunity: Over the past 5 years, the

Shanghai Global CEO Summit has become one of the leading events for the exhibi on industry and has built a bridge between China and the Global industry.

Hundreds of CEOs and entrepreneurs among the Exhibi on industry both from China and around the world will come together to network and discuss hot topics around the future of the industry.

As the official Technology Partner for the Global CEO Summit, Info Salons recognises the need to showcase the latest in event technology to the leaders of the exhibi on industry for this pres gious event.

Formulate & Build: Info Salons constructed their own custom kiosks with large touch screens, in-built cameras, barcode scanners, printers and EFTPOS machine for deployment at exhibi ons.

These kiosks were sta oned at the registra on area for a endees to obtain their name badges.

Prognosis: Forgot your barcode? No problems - Just use your face! Global CEOs around the world are notorious for not bringing their barcode confirma on.

Our exhibi on industry is no different.

With our facial recogni on kiosks you simply stand in front of our self-serve kiosks and your badge prints out immediately.

No lines, no hassle, and a huge saving on staffing. If you want to find out more about how Info Salons facial recogni on pla orm and equipment can help you with your next event, please email isa@infosalonsgroup.com

INDUSTRY WILL CELEBRATE ITS ACHIEVEMENTS AT THE EXHIBITION EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2020 “The Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition industry Association is pleased to support the Exhibition Excellence Awards 2020. It is important for our industry to recognise best practices and to celebrate the success of trade exhibitions and conferences which go above and beyond in terms of delivering on their promise to connect buyers with suppliers. I would like to congratulate all of the winners of these important awards and I hope that we can all take some examples of where standards have been raised in our industry and implement them in our own businesses. Our thanks to Exhibition Showcase magazine for including Hong Kong in this important initiative. As a leading destination for exhibitions and conferences in Asia we are pleased participate and create stronger links between India and Hong Kong,” Stuart Bailey, Chairman, Hong Kong Exhibition & Convention Industry Association

T

he 5th edi on of India’s one & only dedicated awards ini a ve for the exhibi on industry – The Exhibi on Excellence Awards will be held on Saturday, March 28, 2020 at the CIDCO Exhibi on & Conven on Center, Mumbai, India. Over 500 exhibi on & Conven on leaders from across India will witness the gala event. Organised by Exhibi on Showcase, the awards have been successful in promo ng the champions of Indian exhibi ons at a global level. There is a supremely experienced and accomplished jury panel and interna onally renowned exhibi ons advisory firm jwc Consul ng has been roped in as Process Adviser for EEA 2020.

EEA gets an unprecedented par cipa on from the government bodies and the interna onal community. The event will also be broadcast on Na onal Television. The event will be further amplified many mes through thousands of footprints on the social media and trade publica ons. At the EEA2020, a special awards segment is being incorporated to acknowledge the contribu on of corporate and PSU exhibitors. The event will also witness the debut of Exemplary Associa on Awards alongside. In every sense, the 5th Exhibi on Excellence Awards will be a glorious extravaganza like never before!

The Exhibi on Excellence Awards Have Transpired Into A Mega Pla orm For Industry Glory, Honour, Celebra on & Business Networking.

Special Sessions By International Stalwarts

Large Venues For Exhibitions Jochen Witt President & CEO, jwc GmbH

Skill Development Karla Juegel Trainer, Messe, Germany

Digital Innovation In Industry Matthias Tesi Baur Director, MBB Media Group

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Glimpses of

EEA

Special Sessions By International Stalwarts At EEA2020

Large Venues For Exhibitions Jochen Witt President & CEO, jwc GmbH

Skill Development Karla Juegel Trainer, Messe, Germany

Process Partner

Digital Innovation In Industry Matthias Tesi Baur Director, MBB Media Group

500+ Industry Leaders RECOGNIZING

EXCELLENCE IN EXHIBITIONS

EEA 2020 Ofď€ cial Host CIDCO Exhibition & Convention Centre Swami Pranabananda Marg, Sector 30A, Vashi, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra 400703

For Event Registration Please Contact Mr. Sahil Dadial At +91 9971892406, 011-28533196

The Exhibition Excellence

Awards 2020 The Exhibi on Excellence Awards are a showcase for a vibrant industry as well as a show of high esteem for the winners. The companies thus dis nguished are role models that will inspire others to strive for excellence in their products and services to sa sfy customers and par cipants in the best possible way. The Exhibi on Excellence Awards also highlights the importance of exhibi ons and conferences as pla orms for personal exchange towards las ng and beneďŹ cial business rela onships. Alexander Sted eld, Economic Counsellor, German Embassy

OfďŹ cial Host

Platinum Partner

Gold Partner

Silver Partners

Associate Partners

Event Mgt Partner

Stage Partner

Sound & AV Partner

Branding Partner

Emergency Partner

Registration Partner

Marketing Partner ENTERPRISES

Structure Partner

Hi-Tea Partner

Security Partner

Photo Partner BLUE APPLE DIGIMEDIA

Supporting Bodies

MAHARASHTRA TOURISM

Entertainment Partners

Catering Partner

Exclusive Interview

Exhibition Showcase Talks To Ravi Boratkar, Managing Director, MM Activ & Asian Conventions Pvt Ltd.

R

avindra Boratkar is the Managing Director of Asian Conven ons & Exposi ons Pvt. Ltd. (ACE), which operates CIDCO Exhibi on & Conven on Centre (CECC) at Vashi in Navi Mumbai. He is also the Managing Director of MM Ac v Sci Tech Communica ons Pvt. Ltd. MM Ac v is in the business of organising science & technology related Conferences & Trade Shows. Mr Boratkar is the Publisher of the magazines - BioSpectrum (India and Asia edi ons) covering life & bio sciences, medtech & healthcare sectors, and NuFFooDS Spectrum, which caters to new genera on health and medicine foods sector. Mr Boratkar is on the boards of few other companies/socie es which have helped him to expand his horizon and gain insights of various sectors, trade and industry.

To name the few, he is the President of the Maharashtra Economic Development Council, a leading policy research organiza on which has a mandate to act as a Think Tank for the overall Economic Development of Maharashtra and Chairman of the Central India Central Consumer Co-opera ve Society which runs chain of Pur Super Bazaar.

“

We are really excited to host the 5th edi on of the Exhibi on Excellence Awards at CIDCO. And we are eagerly looking forward to welcome all the industry captains across India and abroad to our warm hospitality here.

On the 5th edi on of the Exhibi on Excellence Awards on 28th March 2020 at CIDCO Exhibi on Centre, we hope to see you all. So, be there and be a part of this exci ng event and our hospitality.�

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Exclusive Interview ES. You are a Managing Director of ACE and MM ACTIV. You are also the publisher of Bio Spectrum and NuFFooDs Spectrum. You also run your sugar business. Please educate us about your varied roles. How do you cope with the challenges that arise from such varied and dynamic industries?

Ravindra Boratkar. It is true that I wear more than one cap and carry different responsibili es for each of that cap. S ll, currently my main focus is on Asian Conven ons and Exhibi ons (ACE) as that is the latest venture added to our basket of MM Ac vSciTech Communica ons. As the Managing Director of ACE, my main responsibility is to a ract more and more trade events and shows at CIDCO Exhibi on and Conven on Centre (CECC) at Navi Mumbai, which is now operated by ACE since last two years.

ACE team is pu ng in all efforts to establish the venue as the most user-friendly for both the Event Organisers and Business Visitors. Fortunately, CECC is the only specially designed and built facility for organising the Conferences and Exhibi ons in this region and now ACE is supplemen ng that with a prompt service and responsive a tude towards the various needs of the event organisers. Ÿ Efforts of the ACE team has resulted into more and more known and also new brands of exhibi ons and conferences turning to CECC. The organisers are experiencing complete sa sfac on over the services provided by ACE. Interna onal events like Interna onal Union of Food Science and Technology Congress (IUFoST), Non-Destruc ve Evalua on Expo (NDE Expo), No Dig Expo, BlueCon, Materials Engineering and Technology Expo & Conference, Prawaas, MAPCON, IACDE, Truck Trailer & Tyre Expo etc. have taken place and Op c India, Boiler India, Interna onal Congress Weld India Expo, Envirotech Asia, Interna onal Poultry Expo will be held soon at CIDCO Exhibi on and Conven on Centre. Ÿ My role as director of other companies, which are into diverse areas, is limited to the board mee ngs and not day to day ac vi es. Ÿ

ACE has taken over CIDCO Exhibi on & Conven on Centre from January 2018. There has been significant rise in number of

ac vi es held at CECC. In the year 2018, there have been over 450 ac vi es at the venue and in 2019over 550 ac vi es.

We are aggressively marke ng the venue to surpass our own performance of 2018 and 2019 in 2020.

In my capacity of being Managing Director of MM ACTIV, which organises science and technology related events and shows and also runs a media division, I am publisher of our media pla orms BioSpectrum in India & Asia, NuFFooDS Spectrum and AgroSpectrum. Beside that I am connected with Poor group in Vidarbha region of Maharashtra in different capaci es on boardsright from sugar unit to a coopera ve store.

ES. CECC is one of the well-established venues for exhibi ons and conferences in India. What state of the art services and infrastructure does CECC provide that make it different from other venues? Please share the infrastructure etc. in detail?

Ravindra Boratkar. CECC is purpose-built, integrated exhibi on and conven on venue strategically located on Sion-Panvel highway, outside Vashi railway sta on in Navi Mumbai. It is just 26 Kms (45-minute drive) from Mumbai airport and 20 Kms (25minute drive) from Bandra-Kurla complex. Other than huge Expo Halls and Conference Halls on mul ple floors with various capaci es, CIDCO also has an Art Gallery, An Auditorium with good acous cs, green rooms, rehearsal rooms etc.

The en re venue has an uninterrupted power supply with generator back-up. Surrounded by numerous hotels, the venue has ample parking facility. There isno monopoly of vendors hereand organisers have a choice to select from 7 competent service providers and F&B companies each. Every hall at the exhibi on centre has space provided for se ng up food-court.

Addi onally, a full-fledge restaurant cum food-court is already in opera on at the exhibi on centre, which can cater to exhibitors' requirements of F&B even during the set-up period. The venue has facili es to conduct various aspects of exhibi ons and events like trade display, conferences, seminars, workshops, inaugurals, round table discussions, get-togethers, gala evenings and cultural events. It can accommodate from 25 people to 10,000 people

45 | February | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

Exclusive Interview in its various halls. CECC has air-condi oned exhibi on space of over 13000 sqmts and provision to create hanger spaces of over 5000 sqmts.

Boiler India Expo & Conference, Young Indians - Entrepreneurs' Summit, Weld India, Envirotech Asia, India Interna onal Poultry Expo, World Spice Congress, UCMAS World Cup, etc.

Each exhibi on hall is equipped with auxiliary service areas like organiser's office, registra on block, media room, VIP room and large foyer area for pre-func on ac vi es. The halls are equipped with Wi-Fi & CCTV facili es and generator back-up.

ES. Can you throw some light on the Des na on – Navi Mumbai?

How do you foresee the emergence of Navi Mumbai as an ideal MICE des na on?

Ravindra Boratkar. Navi Mumbai has developed into a smart city.

The state government has recently decided to make the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) a financial services hub. A big chunk of the 6600-acre parcel of industrial land in Navi Mumbai will be now converted into the region's Interna onal Business and Finance Centre (IBFC) that would create 5 lakh new jobs. The IBFC has been planned as there are now land constraints to expand the Bandra-Kurla Complex., IBFC will be situated around Mahape and would beseven mes the size of BKC.

ES. What role, according to you, can the industry associa ons play to make the exhibi on & conven on industry grow be er?

Ravindra Boratkar. Industry associa ons mandate is to bring together members for good collabora ons and make them aware of their respec ve fields and also discuss any regulatory issues which will work in the interest of all concerned.

Basic aim should be to get member son one pla orm. Industry associa ons are in a much be er posi on to explain to their members the importance of exhibi on and conven on industry.

Exhibi ons and Conven ons have a great significance to promote collabora ons, JVs, amongst the stake holders and also help establish be er dialogue between the Industry, regulators, academia, scien fic fraternity and policy makers. It offers a great pla orm to promote new technologies, products, services and the best industry prac ces.

The associa ons themselves can take lead in bringing major players in their respec ve sectors together to develop new shows.

They can also encourage important industries and businesses in their respec ve sectors to take ini a ve in star ng new shows explaining them the benefits of such shows.

This is already happening and because of that this sector is growing fast. But in India it is s llat an early stage and has lot of poten al to grow further.

ES. What is your view on the Sustainability factor in Events & Exhibi ons?

Ravindra Boratkar. We are in a service sector, par cularly in a way in hospitality business. To make the business sustainable the key for this sector, the venue operators, is to well understand the clients' needs in advance and create facili es for them beforehand. Wherever it has not been done a very quick response to the clients' need is a must. Venue operators should think as if it is their own show, they too are partners in it. The event organisers should be provided with the services that should be complimentary to make the event a great experience and a huge success. While maintaining the discipline of the venue facili es, the venue operators should be adequately flexible to accommodate the requirements of the event organiser to make his show successful. We need to ensure that our venues are also of World Standards.

ES. What are some of the key events happening at CIDCO? Ravindra Boratkar. Some of the upcoming key events happening at CECC are Op c India, BharatBenz Commercial Vehicles Expo,

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Navi Mumbai is home to various educa onal ins tu ons offering courses in several streams including engineering, medical sciences, interior designing and hotel management. Various MNCs like Siemens, McDonald's, Bureau Veritas, Bizerba and Larsen & Toubro have their offices/branches across the city making it an ac ve business hub. The place is buzzing with youth, and its character is very cosmopolitan. Youngsters from all over India with a growing income are moving to Navi Mumbai. Navi Mumbai has been ranked 7th among 476 ci es surveyed for cleanliness as a part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan.

The city is characterised by wide roads, world class railway sta ons, an IT hub, numerous malls, a massive exhibi on centre, mul -speciality hospitals, educa onal ins tu ons, unrestricted power and water supply.

Exclusive Interview Food, accommoda on and transporta on are compe vely priced. Logis cs is highly streamlined; people, equipment and exhibi on items can be moved around smoothly.

Navi Mumbai is already blooming as a perfect business des na on and is being seen as a choicest alterna ve to Mumbai.

ES. With rains being a spoilsport in the Mumbai region during recent years, how is CIDCO equipped to handle events successfully in the rainy season?

Ravindra Boratkar. All our halls are indoor so, monsoon is not a problem for us in CECC. All the slopes etc. are also well thought of at the me of the construc on of the venue itself and hence there is no issue of water logging too anywhere at the venue.

There are some minor seepage issues which we take care of in our pre-monsoon maintenance. So, most of our ac vi es at the venue con nue uninterrupted.

ES. What are your own events that you organise through the year?

Ravindra Boratkar. MM Ac v has been organising events for nearly past 20 years all over India & across different ver cals.

ES. What are the key lessons that the Indian MICE Industry should learn from the rest of the world?

Ravindra Boratkar. Venues abroad used to have a far be er infrastructure but this gap is reducing now. We s ll have to catch up in terms of number of venues / op ons and perhaps need many more venues of varied facili es and capaci es. We must also appreciate, venues in India are more flexible and responsive to the last-minute need of the organisers.

ES. You are the Official Host for the Exhibi on Excellence Awards 2020. How do you see this collabora on and what message would you like to give out to the global exhibi on industry in this regard?

Ravindra Boratkar. We are really excited to host the 5th edi on of the Exhibi on Excellence Awards. And we are eagerly looking forward to welcome all the industry captains and professionals across India and abroad to our warm hospitality here.

On the 5th edi on of the Exhibi on Excellence Awards on 28th March 2020 at CIDCO Exhibi on Centre, we hope to see you all.

So, be there and be a part of this exci ng event and our hospitality.

CIDCO is the Ofcial Host of

The Exhibition Excellence Awards 2020

47 | February | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

Exclusive Interview ES. Please highlight your key projects in 2019.

Dilpreet. 2019 has been a very busy year for us, we have been fortunate and mandated to execute pres gious and large format projects including Saras Aajeevika mela, Higher Educa on Summit, Interna onal Arogya- 2019, Indo Asean Expo and Summit, Swacch Bharat Mission, to name a few.

Exhibition Showcase Talks To Dilpreet Oberoi, Director, Arch Concept The leading exhibition management company

ES. Please take us through the rou ne of your working day from the me you wake up ll the me you sign o the day.

Dilpreet. My day starts early, I am usually oďŹƒce by 9 am and then depending on the schedule its either mee ng clients, working on projects both live and in development, si ng with the team and ge ng their insights on things, there is no end me really, but that's the nature of our profession.

ES. What is your outlook on the Indian exhibi on industry?

Dilpreet. Bright! the new breed is always looking to do new things, bringing in new technologies, new way of doing things and I'm very posi ve that our industry has a bright future as bright minds have taken this up as a profession.

ES. What new ideas have you brought to the table as compared to your father?

Dilpreet. Our team is always thinking ahead, we try to add value to every project by introducing be er, leaner and more quality driven methods. We have a automated workshop to reduce turnaround mes, we also have introduced Electric rickshaws, Electric scooters for on site produc on to be environmentally friendly and also for be er me management.

ES. How do you view the role of technology and innova on in this industry?

Dilpreet. Both, play a very important role in taking the industry forward, we take pride in bringing in new innova ons to the way we approach work, technology has helped in be er me management, be er and faster communica on between teams, from a client perspec ve also we get an edge over our compe tors, to be aware and add value to our proposi on.

ES. Please share if you have made use of them in any of your

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recent projects?

Dilpreet. All actually, from interac ve to immersive ways of displaying products and content, to an automated process during the produc on phase.

ES. As a lot of labour is involved in the exhibi on industry during the set-up and dismantling days, what safety features do you keep in place to safeguard your workforce and prevent accidents onsite?

Dilpreet. Safety is our priority, we ensure all measures are taken be it helmets, harness, shoes and a work schedule to ensure manpower rota on.

Exclusive Interview ES. What are your thoughts on the adequate safety measures taken by various agencies in event and exhibi ons?

Dilpreet. Safety and security is a mandate for all, and I'm sure everyone does take all of the safety measures necessary.

ES. Exhibi on Management is a cri cal business which always keeps you on your toes. Can you recount any instance where you encountered a crisis situa on on site and handled it effec vely?

Dilpreet. Crisis is part and parcel of any kind of work, I feel that we should always be prepared for any type of situa on. We teach our team also to be problem solvers, that helps in solving any type of issue or crisis.

ES. Please share your upcoming plans in 2020 Dilpreet. We have big plans moving forward, of course the idea is to leave a posi ve impact on what we do. All I can say is that we have just started and are raring to achieve many more victories.

ES. According to you, what are the challenges surrounding the growth of our industry and how can they be overcome?

Dilpreet. We just need to stay focused, be quality and service oriented, understand the shor alls and address issues with clarity.

A quick Rapid Fire: Q. Your favourite business des na on Dilpreet. London Q. Your favourite tourist des na on Dilpreet. Any place with family and friends.

Q. Your favourite quote Dilpreet. “Work with passion and integrity” Q. Last book you read Dilpreet. I read tenders more than books!

Q. Your favourite hobby Dilpreet. Spending me with my family.

Q. Things you love about your work Dilpreet. Being an architect, I love the process of crea on, design and of course seeing that take actual form and shape.

Glimpses of projects executed by Arch concept

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Exclusive Interview

Arch Concept is in the business for very long period.

Dilpreet is carrying forward the legacy of his father Mr. Ha nder Oberoi. On being asked what did he learn from his father, he said, “Big footprints to fill, having seen my father being a stalwart of the industry I knew from the beginning that I need to not only follow his footsteps but I need to take our enterprise to the next level and drive it into the future. We have brought in many innova ons over the years to ensure quality, me management, happiness of our team members and of course the Arch Concept legacy of being the best in what we do.” Exhibi on Showcase talked to Mr. Ha nder Oberoi also, excerpts; ES. Please tell us when did you start your journey in the exhibi on industry?

Ha nder. Our journey dates back to over two decades, being an architect by passion ge ng into exhibi ons and making it my profession came naturally to me.

ES. Please highlight the first project that you executed in the exhibi on industry.Ha nder. My first project was of CII formally AIEI in 1974 in Dhaka Bangladesh for INDIAN ENGINEERING TRADE FAIR. ES. Back in those days how did exhibi on industry used to operate?

Ha nder. When I started out the industry was not very organized and everyone including me tried to streamline opera ons and improve delivery with each project. Every project I have done is a fond memory, difficult to pin point just one. We have executed all scales and formats of exhibi ons over the years, both domes c and interna onal.

ES. How did you see the exhibi on industry evolve since you started ll today?

Ha nder. Its evolved leaps and bounds, with new technology, be er equipment and more skilled people taking this up as a profession.

ES. Back in those days, what technologies, security equipments were used in exhibi on industry?

Ha nder. Technology and equipment have been introduced over the years, back in those days it was more manpower driven, nowadays we have be er equipment assis ng the manpower in their work.

ES. What are the major milestones which you achieved during

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those days?Ha nder. Seeing Arch Concept grow to being a reliable and quality driven enterprise is my biggest milestone, we con nue to grow and improve each day.

ES. Please take us through the working condi ons on-site at exhibi ons during those days?

Ha nder. We have always tried to make work part of the fun of doing what we do, we used to keep our people mo vated and that con nues today also.

ES. Today we have many MNCs based in India organizing their shows here? Back in those days who were the major players in the industry Ha nder. CII, Plast India Founda on.

ES. If you can think of some key things which this industry gave to you, what would they be?

Ha nder. The industry has been very giving in terms of joy of working, crea ng new things, achieving milestones. There has been ups and downs but I only have fond memories.

ES. If you have to share some important leaning with today's genera on professionals in the industry, what would it be?

Ha nder. Be focussed, establish goals and enjoy what you do.

Associa on News

Industry Must Adopt Interna onal Quality Standards And Give Equal Focus On Import Subs tu on: Piyush Goyal

M

r PiyushGoyal, Minister of Commerce and Industry and Railways, Govt of India, said that in order to promote the Make in India program, industry must adopt interna onal quality standards and scale up produc on to remain globally compe ve.

Speaking at 'DPIIT-FICCI Partnership Forum on Public Procurement for Make in India', organised by FICCI and DPIIT, Mr Goyal said, "We will have to align ourselves with the world standards. We want imports to be curbed and interna onal quality standards have to be adopted both for domes c industry and imports."Highligh ng the US-China trade dispute, Mr Goyal said, "There are sectors in which India has compe ve advantage and let us start looking at scale.

Commerce ministry and DPIIT should iden fy these sectors and make it publicly available to see the business opportuni es to exploit."He urged the industry and DPIIT to iden fy the

bo lenecks ac ng as deterrent so that Make in India can be successful. He also urged the industry, especially PSUs and large companies to start paying advance to vendors at the me of delivery of goods which will help the MSME sector. "DPIIT should iden fy 100 PSUs and 250 private companies to start the process and we will monitor to see how many companies take it forward," Mr Goyal added.Commerce & Industry Minister also emphasised on the need to change and expand the current basket of exports to achieve the $1 trillion target. "The basket is changing but it is not changing fast enough. Can we collec vely look at changing our basket of exports to include more value added products.

Import subs tu on or exports, both are equally important." Mr Goyal also stressed upon the need to adopt latest technologies like AI and machine learning in manufacturing sector in order to become value added producers to change the basket of exports.

MrGoyal said that the government has iden fied few champion sectors like tex les, fisheries and IT, to expand and become a world leader in exports. He added that we need to iden fy sectors in manufacturing and services also. "All of us should get out of the mindset of subsidies. It is decremental to India's long-term growth," he added.

Industry Generates 191 Billion In Revenues; Hires 205,000 New Employees In Fy 2020: Nasscom

T

he Na onal Associa on of So ware and Services Companies (NASSCOM) has announced that the IT-BPM sector grew by 7.7% y-o-y garnering a total revenue of USD 191 billion in Fy2020.

On the side-lines of the flagship NASSCOM Technology and Leadership Forum (NTLF) 2020, the industry body showcased its Strategic Review - 'Techade: The New Decade' which captured the performance of the technology industry and upcoming trends. As part of the report, NASSCOM announced that IT Services sector garnered the highest revenue of USD 97 billion (growth of 6.7%), followed by E-commerce which stood at USD 54 billion (growth 25.6%). The sector generated exports of over USD 147 billion in revenues in FY2020, growing at 8.1% from the previous year.

The maiden report for this decade, showcased the growth of the industry, commemora ng several milestones between FY2009FY2019 such as crossing USD 105 billion in overall revenue, adding 2 million employees/jobs and crea ng 10k new technology companies in overall consolida on. Speaking at the occasion, Keshav Murugesh, Chairman, NASSCOM, said, “The IT-BPM industry con nues to be a key catalyst for India's overall growth.

Over the past year, the performance from the industry showcased the increasing focus on the digital transforma on of businesses

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and also the expansion of digital-driven services to cater to clients across the globe.

We are hopeful that this trend will con nue to drive the growth of the industry in the coming years, and evangelizing innova on in the domain.”

A key trend witnessed last year was the con nued focus on digital revenues, which grew by over 23%, once again a tes mony to the prominence digital technologies and systems are gaining across por olios. Inves ng in digital skills con nues to rise as an impera ve for the industry, with organisa ons building their capabili es and aligning business models to digital prac ces as up to 28% of organisa onal revenues was recorded for digital. Indian enterprises spent over USD 2 billion domes cally to accelerate digital transforma on. With its 28 th edi on this year, NTLF 2020 con nues to be the marquee event for industry stalwarts from the Indian and global technology companies.

Associa on News

Internet And Mobile Associa on Of India (IAMAI) Hosts 14th India Digital Summit 2020

T

he India Digital Summit, the flagship event of the Internet and Mobile Associa on of India (IAMAI) and one of the biggest conferences for the digital industry,was held on the 5th and 6th of February 2020. The 14th year of the summit with the theme 'The Next Digital Leap' was inaugurated by Amit Agarwal, Country Manager, Amazon India, and Chairman, IAMAI who spoke about how India should focus on 'removing fric on and bo le necks' and added that the target of USD 1 trillion digital economy is not farfetched for a country that is seen as a digital powerhouse.

Another highlight of Day 1 was the launch of a report tled

'Intelligent Automa on - A Key Catalyst for India's Economic Growth' by Smt. ArunaSundararajan, Former Telecom Secretary and Chairman of the Telecom Commission. Launching the report, she said the report seeks to address what can catalyse the India's economy growth. She further stated that investment is the next driver of growth. As the digital footprints in India grows across sectors it will help in benefi ng several of India's fastest growing companies from Intelligent Automa on, she added. According to the report by 'Automa on Anywhere' and IAMAI, Intelligent automa on will catapult Indian economy to USD 5 trillion in the next five years, up from USD 2.7 trillion.

The second day of the summit was followed by an address by Chief Guest Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, Union Minister for Communica ons, Electronics & IT and Law who discussed in the last five years, India has evolved digitally, and observed that IAMAI has a big role to play in the process. “In the process of reform, perform and transform; technology plays a crucial role,” he added. The major emphasis of the conference was on topics like Marke ng, Technology, Start-ups, Mobile and other Digital Trends. The summit had a gathering of over 2500 delegates, from across the various sectors of the internet industry.

APEDA Organizes First Ever Awareness Programme On Agri Exports In Andaman & Nicobar Islands To Promote Export Of Produce

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n awareness programme was organized by Agriculture and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), Ministry of Commerce and Industries, Government of India along with the Directorate of Industries of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands (A&N Islands) in Port Blair on 31st January, 2020 to examine ways to promote the exports of agri products and implementa on of the Agri Export Policy in the Islands.

APEDA has facilitated in developing the dra state Agri Export ac on plan, which is now being finalized. The Union Territory of A&N Islands has designated department of agriculture as the State nodal agency and deputed Joint Director Department of Agriculture as nodal officer for implementa on of the Agri Export Policy in a focused manner.

The programme held at Port Blair last week was a ended by around 100 par cipants including concerned Government agencies and some exporters from other States. Secretary Industries, A&N Islands, Dr.Pooja Joshi along with senior officials from APEDA, Director of Industries A&N Islands, NABARD, Central Island Agricultural Research Ins tute, an ICAR Ins tute, Spices Board a ended the awareness programme. Detailed presenta ons were also made on ac vi es of the organiza ons

a ending the workshop. The presenta on made by APEDA elaborated on the poten al of exports from the island, export requirements, financial assistance schemes provided and the ac vi es to be carried out for the implementa on of the Agri Export Policy. Exporters from Chennai and Jharkhand elaborated on the export requirements of products from the area like fruits, vegetables and dried flowers. The exporters also shared their experiences and assured the par cipants of providing linkages for exports. Export prospects of spices, coconut products and fisheries were also discussed.

The A&N Islands have the advantage of being on the sea route to the South East Asian Na ons and can directly export the agri products from the islands to these countries.

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Associa on News

India Pulses And Grains Associa on Holds 'The Pulses Conclave 2020'

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ndia Pulses and Grains Associa on (IPGA), the nodal body for India's pulses trade and industry have announced that the 5th edi on of The Pulses Conclave (TPC 2020), their biennial global pulses conference will be held from February, 12 - 14, 2020 at Amby Valley City in Lonavala, Maharashtra. IPGA expects close to 1500 trade stakeholders from India and key pulses expor ng countries like USA, Australia, Canada, Myanmar, Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania, Mozambique, Malawi among other pulse producing countries are expected to par cipate in the conclave.

The Pulses Conclave 2020, as a part of its agenda will not just discuss increasing domes c produc on and consump on but will also bring to fore other areas of the trade like improving processing efficiencies, increasing consump on, exports, value addi on, protein extrac on, post-harvest crop management among other related issues of pulses value chain.

Speaking on the occasion, Jitu Bheda, Chairman – IPGA said, “India's pulses produc on has steadily grown every year from around 19 million tonnes in 2013-14 to 23 million tonnes in 2018-19 and the target for 2019-20 is of 26.30 million tonnes. IPGA's agenda and roadmap going forward will be to encourage its members to take advantage of the increased domes c produc on, balance imports visà-vis the produc on and demand thereby ensuring that Indian consumer neither face any availability crunch nor high retail prices.”

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“In recent years, there was a defla on in food prices that has brought the overall consumer price index down, leading to a crisis for farmers. When the prices of agricultural commodi es are globally low, India's export in the sector is not so impressive. To make ma ers worse, the wholesale price index of food items is lower than the agricultural inputs for most years for key reason in the cost of inputs such as irriga on, electricity, pes cides and fer lisers. Therefore, the Government will have to keep a close eye on the produc on, demand and availability to ensure that farmers get the right price and pulses remain available and affordable for consumers," Bheda added.

Highligh ng the conclave agenda, Pradeep Ghorpade, Chief Execu ve Officer, IPGA said, “The conclave programme typically is built around dissemina on of global and domes c pulses produc on numbers,

global and domes c prices and supply and demand scenarios. However, at TPC 2020, while covering these aspects of the trade, IPGA is looking to go beyond and IPGA's focus, by the end of the conclave, will be to try and put together a roadmap that will help the Indian Pulses Trade.”

Pulses are the key source of proteins in India and IPGA believes that apart from addressing the availability of pulses ensuring affordability of pulses is equally important. The Indian government needs to work to create a plan that allows both farmers and consumers to be benefited.

IPGA will be engaging with the government to pursue the inclusion of pulses in the public distribu on system (PDS) to make the affordable for the below poverty line (BPL) popula on, leading to an increase in demand and drive increase in produc on.

Global News

Inaugural IBTM Asia Pacific Event Rescheduled For 2021 buyers regarding the coronavirus.

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eed Travel Exhibi ons announced that it has postponed the inaugural IBTM Asia Pacific. Originally scheduled for Apr. 6-8, the event has been rescheduled to Apr. 13-14, 2021. The loca on (Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands) will remain the same.

According to Reed officials, the decision was made based on the latest advice from its partners, and a er in-depth discussions with customers and hosted

“This is not a decision we have taken lightly,” said Shane Hannam, Reed Travel Exhibi ons’ por olio director for IBTM events. “Our customers, partners and team in Singapore have worked incredibly hard on the event, and while it is disappoin ng to postpone, it’s impera ve that we priori ze the health and safety of everyone involved.”

He added, “We are extremely grateful for the understanding of our customers, partners and team, and for the strong support we have had since announcing this new addi on to our por olio.”

Hannam said that Reed is commi ed to Singapore as a host city for IBTM Asia Pacific, and expressed the hope for a swi

return to normalcy. He also stated that over the coming weeks, Reed will focus on crea ng new ways to keep the IBTM community connected.

Dr. Edward Koh, execu ve director, conven ons, mee ngs and incen ve travel for Singapore Tourism Board, said that the tourism board will con nue to work closely with Reed and partners to provide any assistance they need. “IBTM is a valued partner and their Asia Pacific show remains a key highlight in Singapore’s event calendar,” said Koh. “We look forward to extending a warm welcome to all a endees and exhibitors in 2021.”

Reed Travel Exhibi ons hosts annual IBTM events around the world, all of which offer hosted buyer op ons. IBTM China is scheduled to be held in Beijing, Aug. 2627, 2020, and as of now, there are no plans to change the dates for that event.

Tarsus Group Adds New Sector To Growing Por olio

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ince being acquired by Charterhouse Partners in August 2019, Tarsus Group has been highly acquisi ve, closing six deals in sectors that include travel, space technology, tyres, 3D glass and the latest one in the fast-growing independent beauty sector.

The global B2B media group has announced that it has formed a joint venture with the innova ve beauty event series, Unfiltered Experience. The USbased event was launched last July and has been building its reputa on since as the go-to pla orm for “indie beauty”, which caters to small and medium beauty businesses. Unfiltered Experience's unique approach to events has garnered a en on for not only connec ng brands and buyers directly but also for its strong links with social and media influences.

The next edi on of Unfiltered is set to take place at Tarsus Group's OFF PRICE

show, 3-6 February at the Sands Conven on Center, Las Vegas.

The Unfiltered event will be targe ng buyers and bou que owners looking to source new and unique beauty products for their stores. The targeted buyer profile at the OFFPRICE Show presents an ideal opportunity for Unfiltered's customer base to reach order-wri ng buyers and final decision-makers.

Tarsus Group CEO Douglas Emslie, reflected on the Group's latest acquisi on and way forward: “Unfiltered represents a really exci ng move for us, it is exactly the kind of innova ve and entrepreneurial business that aligns with the approach taken by the wider group..”

"This is our sixth acquisi on in less than six months and again underscores our commitment to achieving the ambi ous

growth targets we have set ourselves whilst moving quickly to seize opportuni es.

It is also a reflec on of the confidence we and our investors, Charterhouse Capital Partners, have in the market and the route we are pursuing in order to accelerate our growth and further strengthen our posi on as a leading global event organiser.”

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Global News

Memoirs From Rome – UFI CEO Summit

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ow was Rome?” they ask me. How indeed do you describe the incredible UFI CEO mee ng in Rome last week. You could highlight the unprecedented mee ng with Pope Francis 1, who extolled the virtues of our exhibi on industry and the importance of mee ng face-2-face. You could highlight the dinner in the Palazzo Colonna in the sumptuous Galleria del Cardinale, entertained by the Italian opera. You could highlight the majesty that is Rome itself as a backdrop.

But for me, this year was about CONSULTATION. As we sit on the brink of a poten ally global pandemic of which we s ll do not fully appreciate the financial repercussions for our industry, it felt good to be able to sit with industry leaders and discuss strategies to overcome issues.

My takeaways were numerous as always, but the following were key 1. The response to the outbreak of the Novel Coronavirus COVID-19 by China has seemed ruthless but their strict measures are keeping the disease from spreading.

Please read UFI Blog for responses from many of the major Asian Industry leaders.

Our industry has already been affected but we are resilient. Companies should also review their insurance coverage to see whether they are covered for communicable diseases.

As Isaac Newton said, “what passes between friends in private usually deserves the name of consulta on rather than contest.”

2. Exhibitor Sa sfac on was examined in depth with the latest Explori survey. With 37% of exhibitors globally fall into a nega ve category, we looked at what specific things we could do to increase sa sfac on. According to exhibitors surveyed, these ac ons will help: Maintain Jo-Anne Kelleway is the Founder and CEO of The Info Salons personal contact Group, the leading Registra on & A endee Database Company from booking throughout Australia, China, Asia & Middle East. Info Salons’ global the stand to strategy is to become the leading events technology company in arriving onsite; emerging markets throughout Spend me the world. understanding each exhibitor’s

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individual objec ves in exhibi ng; Give personalized advice on the best exhibi ng strategy to meet their objec ves.

3. We also looked at the correla on between Visitor and Exhibitor Sa sfac on.

Shows with the highest Visitor NPS include "Newness". These high performing events typically have a clearly defined strategy for ensuring the latest sector innova on are incorporated in each cycle, including dedicated me as part of the planning process.

4. Finally we studied Personal Experience as generated by major spor ng events and the biggest event city - Las Vegas.

With digital innova ons such as AI, AR & Matchmaking helping our industry to personalise visitor experience, we are s ll not there yet. We do not “connect” with our a endees on the same level as these other events. We need a deeper understanding of what is happening in their personal life. Connec ng on this level should raise the sa sfac on.

This year's UFI CEO Summit has outshone all previous events. Kai Ha endorf, Nick Dugdale-Moore, Sonia Thomas and the en re UFI team have excelled in providing a pla orm where we experienced things that moved us personally, and where we could sit together and learn from each other. Under the guidance of Simon Foster, we were able to meet and share knowledge and see farther by standing on the "shoulders of giants".

Global News

Diversified Communica ons Acquires Aquaculture UK 21, 2020 at Macdonald Aviemore Highland Resort in Scotland, is expected to draw over 3,000 a endees and 200 exhibitors.

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iversified Communica ons have announced the acquisi on of Aquaculture UK – the UK's leading trade show dedicated to the growing aqua c food sector.

Aquaculture UK has grown rapidly in recent years and has become established as the must-a end event for the industry.

The last edi on of the biennial show, held in Aviemore, Scotland, in May 2018, had over 2,400 visitors and 190 exhibitors.

The upcoming edi on, to be held May 19-

of our industry, not just in the UK but interna onally. We are delighted to hand over the reins to Diversified. They share our culture, work ethos and ways of doing things and have a deep understanding of the sector.

Commen ng on the news, Diversified UK's MD Carsten Holm says: “It's great to be welcoming Aquaculture UK to Diversified Communica ons. We have been watching the growing success of the event and believe that its focus and subject ma er complement our already substan al interna onal presence in the sector extremely well.

I am confident that the new management can provide the support and structure needed to con nue to grow Aquaculture UK in the years to come. It feels like the perfect home for the event and a natural development, which will ensure the show con nues to fulfill its poten al and role as the leading forum for the UK's aquaculture industry.”

We also feel that the sense of community, customer focus, long-term vision and a en on to detail, is very similar to how we approach our events.” James Banfield, Managing Director of 5M, agrees: “Aquaculture UK's success reflects the increasing importance and rapid growth

“Aquaculture UK is an exci ng development for our award-wining UK division as it con nues to grow and strengthen its posi on as one of the most successful tradeshow organizers in the UK,” remarks Diversified'sPresident & CEO, Theodore Wirth.

UNITI Expo To Celebrate Its Fourth Edi on On May 26 – 28, 2020.

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NITI expo 2020, the leading European trade fair for the retail petroleum and car wash industries, will celebrate its fourth edi on on May 26 – 28, 2020. The industry's most interna onal trade fair will return to Stu gart (Germany) to showcase the latest products and services for petrol sta ons, professional car washes and convenience stores.

Following the successful model from the previous edi ons, UNITI expo 2020 will spread across 40,000 square metres of exhibi on space. The exhibi on is divided into four themed areas – Technology, Payment & Logis cs; Carwash & Carcare; Oil Companies & Fuel Retailers; and Shop & Convenience – allowing visitors and exhibitors to plan their visit efficiently.

UNITI expo 2018 saw the installa on of the first 'Alterna ve Fuels Pavilion'. In an effort to stay ahead of the mes, UNITI

expo 2020 will expand this concept in space and number of par cipa ng companies. Ongoing conversa ons in the European Union, a growing environmental awareness from society and the will to invest in new technologies from major oil companies will only make the market share of alterna ve fuels grow.

More interna onal and European visitors are expected in the Shop & Convenience themed area, which con nues to grow with every new edi on of the show. In addi on to invi ng all major European brands to the show, there will be a themed pavilion tled 'Franchise & CoBranding' – a space tailor-made for franchises to interact with oil companies and retailers from across the globe. The diverse approaches of retailers in Europe make the pla orm incredibly useful and interes ng to learn about different business models.

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Global News

Kai Ha endorf Managing Director / CEO - UFI

Beyond The Coronavirus - Resilience

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s I am wri ng this, the new coronavirus is crea ng uncertainty in public life as well as in our industry. I meant to write these lines about the challenges that we are expec ng in the year and years ahead, as we have entered a new decade. But, right now, our industry is called to deal with this health threat. As government authori es in China are focusing on public health by shu ng down long distance travel, banning public events, and prolonging the spring break holidays, we are seeing many exhibi ons and events in China being postponed.

media channels for updates.

Also, as you know, this year's Asia-Pacific Conference was scheduled to take place in Macau in early March, together with a Digital Innova on Forum. Of course, we always put the health and safety of our members and staff first. Like many of you faced with similar decisions, and a er discussions with our hosts in Macau, we have opted to postpone these events to later in the year. As soon as we have clarity on how the situa on evolves in general, we will share the new dates when we will meet for this conference.

Likewise, globally, safety measures are being implemented to prevent the spreading of the virus - as well leading to challenges and empty booths at exhibi ons around the world.

We are facilita ng informa on flows and updates to support our industry on this ma er as we hope for a quick containment of the outbreak. Please be in touch with the team, and follow our social

At the same me, life and work goes on, and we are pu ng the finishing touches on the next edi on of our UFI Global Barometer – which is based on data shared by close to 450 exhibi on industry companies worldwide on the state of their business – polled before the outbreak, but s ll with valuable insights.

This edi on sees a growing number of markets where we as an industry are

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becoming more hesitant with projec ons.

This dilemma makes it as important as ever to bring together the leaders and the decision-makers of our industry. We did that earlier this month in Rome at the Global CEO Summit, and will do so with the other regional conferences this spring in La n America, in Europe, and – again – also in Asia as soon as possible.

As world leaders showed in their discussions at the World Economic Forum in Davos just a few weeks back, we are facing issues ranging from the spread of disease (the new coronavirus) to sustainability (cu ng carbon emissions), from the climate crisis (the wildfires in Australia) to poli cal unrest. All these topics are challenging for us, as the current outbreak shows all too clearly. We all need to find solu ons that guide us toward the future in socie es and economies, and in our exhibi ons and events as well. Let's work together to find solu ons to the issues!