Oct 2019

Rs. 125

Oct 2019 Vol 7 Issue 3

I N D I A

G N I N I H S & G N I S I R 86 th

UFI Global Congress Special

The 34 acre MMCEC has three air- condi oned, pillar less exhibi on halls that provide 9675 sq mts of display space and clear height of 10 mts. Adequate number of loading bays provide easy accessibility to swi ly mount and dismantle display booths. We are 25 minutes away from the Interna onal Airport and well connected via a 6 lane highway for easy movement of goods, exhibitors and show delegates or visitors.

The centre is managed by the Leela Group of Hotels.

From The Desk Of The Group Editor

Dear readers, Gree ngs!

As Honeywell's Lawrence Bossidy famously quoted “Nothing we do is more important than hiring people. At the end of the day, you bet on people, not strategies,” I o en think this in context of our industry. And I also wonder why he did not signify more a en on to mean – 'Right People'. MICE is a people driven industry and with people I will stress on those right people who understand the core and pulse of this industry; who can relate to it and who are in sync with its unique perspec ves. And believe me, such people are rare and hard to find, more so in India, despite being amongst the most populous na ons in the world. Irony, isn't it! Well, having said that, once an organisa on has found the right people, it is also impera ve to have a structured growth plan for them, not just in terms of salaries but also in terms of expansion in role, experiences and learnings. In this issue we bring to you a special feature on 'The Role of HR &Careers in Exhibi on Industry'. We kick off this interes ng topic and bring forth some industry opinions on it.

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India is a land of dreams. Dreams of a 1.37 billion people, 627 million internet users and 1 billion mobile subscribers. India will this year overtake the UK to become the world's fi h biggest economy, and is poised to surpass Japan to be the third largest in 2025, according to market reports.

Also, the size of the Indian consumer market is forecast to increase from $1.9 trillion in 2019 to $3.6 trillion by 2025.As India con nues to ascend in the rankings of the world's largest economies, its contribu on to global GDP growth momentum will also increase. As the size of its consumer market con nues to grow at a rapid pace, India will also play an increasingly important role as one of the Asia-Pacific region's major economic growth engines, helping to drive Asian regional trade and investment flows. We bring you the India story – 'Rising & Shining' in this issue.

We now head for the 86th UFI Global Congress in Bangkok, also known as the exhibi on industry's largest global mee ng of the year, combining interna onal networking with unique content. As per UFI's recently released 15th edi on of the Trade Fair Industry in Asia annual report, net space sold at Asian trade fairs in 2018 reached 23.4 million net sqmt , which represents an average growth rate of 4.8% across 17 Asian trade fair markets. More than half of the total (59%) was sold in China – totalling 13.7 million sqmt in net space, which is well over six mes the space sold in Asia's second largest trade fair market, Japan (2.15 million m2 ). India was the fastest-growing large market as net space sold jumped by 10%, rising from 1.18 million sqmt to 1.3 million sqmt. By the end of 2019, venue capacity in Asia will be over 9.6 million sqmt, and the number of purpose built exhibi on venues opera ng in Asia will reach 232. Well, the wri ng is on the wall and the Indian stakeholders must drive this momentum carefully to reap posi ve dividends in the mes to come.

News From Across The World Brussels Held from Sept. 24-27 at Brussels Expo in Belgium, the 40th anniversary edi on of Labelexpo Europe covered nine halls and nearly 40,000 square meters of floor space, up from 37,600 square meters (404,700 square feet) in 2017. The show had more live demonstra ons and offerings in the label and package prin ng technology space than ever before, drawing nearly 38,000 a endees from 140 countries.Show officials report that India, China and Japan were par cularly well represented in the delega on, and Eastern Europe a endance was up from 2017—especially from Croa a, Lithuania, Romania and Russia. Brazilian delegates also increased from the last edi on of the show.One par cularly popular area on the showfloor was the Flexible Packaging Arena, which featured 11 live demonstra ons.

USA According to a U.S. Travel Associa on commissioned study, almost three out of four Americans are unprepared for the October 2020 deadline for full implementa on of REAL ID, and millions could be prevented from boarding a plane due to lack of required iden fica on.

Originally passed by Congress in 2005, the REAL ID Act enacted the 9/11 Commission's recommenda on that the federal government “set standards for the issuance of sources of iden fica on, such as driver's licenses.” The Act and implemen ng regula ons establish minimum security standards for state-issued driver's licenses and iden fica on cards. It prohibits federal agencies, such as the Transporta on Security Administra on (TSA), from accep ng licenses and iden fica on cards from states that do not meet these standards for official purposes, such as ge ng through the airport security checkpoint to board a plane.

Africa Informa Markets, the world's leading exhibi on organiser, and Cairo for Investment and Development have announced the launch of the first edi on of Pan African Leather Fair, to take place from the 21st to 23rd of June 2020 in Cairo at the Egypt Interna onal Exhibi on Centre (EIEC) - 5th se lement. The exhibi on is to be held under the patronage of the Egyp an Minister of Trade & Industry, with key support from both the Egyp an Export Council for Leather, Footwear and Leather Products and the African Leather & Leather Products Ins tute ALLPI.

China Tarsus, the global B2B media group, has completed the acquisi on of 70 percent of the Shenzhen Zhong Xin Cai Exhibi on Company; owner and organizer of Touch China & 3D Glass Expo, strengthening the Group's presence in its Shenzhen, China. The acquisi on represents the Group's first move into the fast-growing and strategically important electronics sector in Shenzhen. It also marks the first acquisi on under Tarsus' new Charterhouse Capital Partners ownership. Touch China was launched in 2006 and now is firmly established as the leading exhibi on in the 3D curved glass manufacturing sector. The exhibi on is held annually at the Shenzhen Conven on & Exhibi on Center (SZCEC). The 2019 edi on of Touch China, held in June, a racted some 380 exhibitors covering a gross area of 37,500 m2 and saw more than 22,500 visitors in a endance.

Thailand

Singapore Former US president Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama are heading to Singapore in December. The Obamas will be speaking at separate events held at the Singapore Expo.

Barack Obama, 58, will share details about his me in the Oval Office and his thoughts on leadership around the world on December 16. This will be his first public business event in Singapore. The 90-minute event will be an “interviewstyle” discussion with a moderator.

Michelle Obama will share reflec ons from her memoir, Becoming.

Value for money, a strategic loca on in Southeast Asian region and new business opportuni es from Thailand 4.0 economic transforma on policies are factors contribu ng to the growth of Thailand as a preferred MICE des na on. From Q1-Q3 of financial year 2019, overseas MICE travellers to Thailand numbered 967,828, a +6.25% increase from 2018. The standout performer was the exhibi on sector, whose overseas par cipants during this period rose by 20.02%, affirming their confidence in business opportuni es in Thailand.

Geographically, Thailand is a convenient des na on from all regions within ASEAN. Expansion of airline services is further enhancing its connec vity, and now with v i s a - o n - a r r i va l fe e s wa i ve d fo r 2 1 na onali es, including Chinese, it's no w o n d e r t h a t b u s i n e s s t rav e l f ro m surrounding countries is so strong.

According to latest sta s cs the top five markets for interna onal MICE travellers to Thailand were China, India, Japan, Indonesia and Malaysia.

Australia Handloom Export Promo on Council (HEPC), India's foremost trade promo on organisa on for export of handwoven products from India, will a end Interna onal Sourcing Expo Australia for eighth consecu ve year from November 12-14, furthering solid industry links and coopera on between Australian and Indian governments in rela on to tex les and fashion. HEPC ini ally exhibited at the expo with ten par cipants in 2012. With a con ngent of 20 signed up for the upcoming show, they will once again be a welcome addi on to Interna onal Sourcing Expo.

Quick Bytes Indian Entry Wins Gold At Beijing Interna onal Hor cultural Expo The eighth edi on of the Beijing Interna onal Hor cultural Exhibi on 2019 concluded with India receiving the golden award for its entry into the outdoor garden category. The Interna onal Hor cultural Exhibi on 2019 is accredited as an A1 Exhibi on for the interna onal hor culture. The event is organized by the Beijing Municipal Government and hosted by the Chinese Government. This year's theme was 'Live Green, Live Be er'. The global media reported the par cipa on of 110 countries and interna onal organiza ons across the world.

India won gold in 'Harmony with Nature' theme - A er Kunming Expo,1999 and Shanghai Expo, the 2010 Interna onal Hor cultural Exhibi on 2019 is a grand event, affiliated as the Expo of the largest scaled and highest level exhibi on. India registered under the category of Outdoor Exhibi on. The theme of this category was 'Harmony with Nature'. This year's main theme was 'Live Green, Live Be er', followed

by Integra ng Hor culture into Nature and Touching Souls with Nature'. The theme of the expo focuses mainly on landscapes and hor culture inculca ng a sense of knowledge, tradi on and new innova ons prevalent in the field. Beijing Interna onal Hor cultural Exhibi on 2019 - The exhibi on was first hosted in 1999 in the city of Kunming, China. The exhibi on is organized in a huge park that covers a total area of 503 hectares in Yanqing District, Beijing.

PM Modi, Chinese Prez Xi Jinping Visits Artefacts And Handloom Exhibi on In Kovalam, Tamil Nadu

Indian-origin Economist Abhijit Banerjee Wins The Nobel Prize, Becomes The Second Indian-origin Economist To Have This Honour Abhijit Banerjee, Esther Duflo, and Michael Kremer were jointly awarded the Nobel Prize fo r Eco n o m i c s o n M o n d ay “ fo r t h e i r experimental approach to allevia ng global poverty.” This makes Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo the sixth married couple to win the Nobel Prize. The first would be Pierre Curie and Marie Curie who won the award in 1903 for their discovery of radium and polonium.

The last me a couple won the award together would be in 2014, when May Bri Moser and Edvard I. Moser won the Nobel Prize in medicine or physiology. Born in 1961, Banerjee is an alumnus of South Point School, Presidency College and Jawahar Lal Nehru University. He is the editor of three more books and has directed two documentary films. He also served on the UN Secretary-General's High-level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post-2015 Development Agenda, the website said. Ms. Duflo is a French-American economist and has co-founded the Abdul La f Jameel Poverty Ac on Lab with Banerjee.

Several poli cal leaders across the poli cal spectrum have also extended their gree ngs to Mr. Banerjee and his wife, Ms. Duflo.

During their second informal summit, “Chennai Connect”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping visited an exhibi on on artefacts and handloom at Taj Fisherman's Cove Hotel in Tamil Nadu's Kovalam. A range of artefacts were displayed including 'Nataraja'. A variety of colourful sarees also do ed the walls at the exhibi on.

The exhibi on also had at least two tradi onal sarees which have Chinese President's face imprinted on it. The aim of the exhibi on was to introduce Prez X with Tamil culture.

Earlier, both leader held one-on-one and delega on level talks. The exhibi on at the Fisherman's Cove showcased handicra s such as Swamimalai bronze icons, Thanjavur art plates, Mamallapuram stone carvings, Kallakurichi sandalwood carving and Kancheepuram saree weaving. Among the gi s formally handed over to Xi by Modi were a large Nachiarkoil brass lamp adorned with the celes al Annam bird, a hand-woven silk portrait of the Chinese president created by the master weavers of Sri Ramalinga Sowdambigai Handloom Weavers Co-opera ve Society of Sirumugaipudur, and a Thanjavur pain ng on wood of the dancing goddess Saraswa .

Netherlands King And Queen Visit Indo-dutch Exhibi on Celebra ng 400 years of shared cultural heritage, India and the Netherlands have joined hands for a special exhibi on in Mumbai that will showcase some of the original work of iconic Dutch painter Rembrandt and miniature pain ngs by ar sts from his era. Netherlands King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima visited the Chhatrapa Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS) on Wednesday, 16th October for the opening of the exhibi on tled ''Indo-Dutch Connec ons in the Age of Rembrandt'', according to the website of the Royal House of the Netherlands. "India and the Netherlands are coming together to celebrate 400 years of cultural heritage and honour the 350th death anniversary of the iconic ar st, Rembrandt. The CSMVS, Mumbai and Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam are collabora ng on an exhibi on tled ''India & the Netherlands in the Age of Rembrandt'', supported by the Consulate General of the Netherlands in Mumbai," the Dutch consulate general said in a statement. The exhibi on will showcase some of Rembrandt's original work and other miniature pain ngs by ar sts from his era, it said. It will be on display at the CSMVS from October 17 to December 16, the consulate general said.

Quick Bytes Exhicon Bags Another Interna onal Event In Goa A er a fantas c execu on of Vibrant Goa Global Expo & Summit where more than 45 countries had par cipated, infrastructure services of the third edi on of Goa Interna onal Travel Mart (GITM) has been awarded to Exhicon'svenue infrastructure division. Being held between October 23 to 25 at Dr Shyama Prasad Mukharjee Stadium, Dona Paula, The B2B event organised by Ministry of Tourism, Government of Goa is bringing 30 plus countries under its umbrella. USA, UK, France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Scandinavian, Bal c's, CIS, Australia, New Zealand, Croa a, Bulgaria, Israel, Jordan, UAE, Middle East, Italy, Czech Republic, Russia, Poland, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Malaysia are major countries taking part in the event. Travel companies, hoteliers, eco-tourism, adventure, wildlife, nightlife, event managers, wedding planners, wellness and other leisure enterprises will be under one roof to showcase the tourism investment poten al in the state.

New Industrial Policy For India's Manufacturing Growth

We Need To Create More Than Five Crore Jobs In Five Years

A Dent on Auto Expo 2020

The government has begun work on redra ing the proposed na onal industrial policy, keen to offer benefits in addi on to what states provide.“We don't want to replicate the state models but we have decided to engage in wider consulta ons,” said a senior official aware of the plans.The government has already cons tuted a working group to prepare the contours of the new industrial policy to make India a manufacturing hub.The working group, comprising members from seven state governments, the Centre and domes c industry, will consult stakeholders, iden fy pain points of industry and develop ac onable solu ons for short and medium term and also delineate the role for the private sector in achieving the na onal targets.The Department for Promo on of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) had proposed the new industrial policy last year, with an aim to create jobs for the next two decades and a ract $100 billion foreign direct investment annually.Officials said the exis ng dra prepared by the DPIIT was more a statement of objec ves, and it required rework a er comparing with states' industrial policies and the kind of subsidies and incen ves they offer.This will be the third industrial policy, a er the first in 1956 and next in 1991.

The government will soon make changes to the defini on of a micro, small and medium enterprise, Union Minister Ni n Gadkari said during the Luxury Symposium 2019, and hoped to generate five crore jobs in the MSME sector in five years. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had in August said the government would consider amending the MSME Act to move towards a single defini on.The update in the defini on of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) may allow a single defini on for purposes related to taxa on, investment, etc.

The new defini on is likely to be effected through an amendment to the MSME Act and may lead to further improvement in India's ease of doing business scenario.In February last year, the Union Cabinet had approved amendments to the law to change the criteria for classifying MSMEs from 'investment in plant and machinery' to 'annual turnover'.Observing that MSMEs are the heart of the Indian economy, contribu ng 29 per cent to the gross domes c product and have created 11 crore jobs ll now, the minister said that the government is already in the process of sanc oning 13 clusters under the Solar Vastra scheme and every cluster has a poten al of crea ng 3,0003,500 jobs.

No other event in the Indian auto business is as big a grandeur as the Auto Expo. However, amid the deterrent slowdown that has struck the auto industry, the big ques on is that how grand will the 2020 Auto Expo be and how many automakers will par cipate in its upcoming edi on. If reports are to be believed, there are quite a number of automakers who will be skipping the upcoming auto expo. Prominent carmakers like Honda, Ford, Toyota, Lexus, Volvo, BMW, Audi, Jaguar Land Rover and the en re Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) Group (including Jeep) have decided to let go this auto expo.

Surprisingly, Citroen which is all set to enter the Indian market in a couple of years were to display its first India bound model have also opted out of the event. Speaking about the two-wheeler side of things, Hero MotoCorp has already revealed that it has no plans for the auto expo.That said, there are quite some players in the auto business who s ll see relevance in in par cipa ng. For instance, Mercedes-Benz gets a chance to cash in the absence of its rivals and being the only prominent luxury carmaker at the 2020 Auto Expo.

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22nd India Interna onal Security Expo Concludes Successfully At Praga Maidan, New Delhi

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he Union Minister of Defence, Shri Rajnath Singh a ended an exclusive programme on 'Indian Defence' at the 22nd edi on of India Interna onal Security Expo 2019 at Praga Maidan, New Delhi on 4th October. To mark the occasion, he also released exclusive knowledge papers on “Shi ing Gears from Import to Export– Defence Capability Developments”. A er a ending the programme, the Minister took round of the Expo and evinced his keen interest in a wide range of displays comprising of the latest security and surveillance systems which are indispensable for a credible and rapid response to security challenges and threats in the internal and external domains during peace and war.

Invi ng the private sector for ac ve par cipa on in the defence industry, Mr. Singh, said he will not be afraid of taking decisions for fear of a rac ng complaints of corrup on. "A minister who is afraid of corrup on charges, should refrain (from taking decisions), Rajnath Singh is not worried about all this. People and big

industry organisa ons in this country know who is what ('kaun kya hai'). I am not worried at all. Come. My doors are open. Whatever help I can give, the defence ministry will give. This is an assurance I would like to give you," he said.

He further remarked that the Centre is commi ed in exploi ng the entrepreneurship spirit of private defence sector and ready to interact and resolve their problems in the plans to take the Indian defence industry to the size of USD 26 billion by 2025. There is no other effec ve interface between industry and the government than such events and expos, the minister noted. Sta ng that his doors are always open, he urged the private companies to come forward as he would like to give all help wherever possible.

Speaking to Exhibi on Showcase, Mr. Rajeev Talwar, President, PHDCCI said, “the Expo offers an excellent pla orm for connec ng industry stakeholders to

explore business and investment opportuni es in the area of defence and homeland security. In addi on, an 'Invest India' programme is also expected to a ract Indian and foreign start-ups” The Expo also had dedicated sessions on modernising state police, paramilitary forces, strengthening disaster management system and capability development and modernisa on requirement of Indian Army, Navy and Air Force. Organized by ITPO and PHD Chamber of Commerce & Industry with support of the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of MSME, Government of India, IISE 2019 was organized Praga Maidan. Concurrent programmes Indian defence & homeland security with meaningful delibera ons by the experts were among the major a rac ons of the event.

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The Delhi Jewellery And Gems Fair Sparkles In Its 8 Edi on Brought together over 650 leading brands & over 300 exhibitors from Gems & Jewellery Industry

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orth India's biggest three-day Delhi Jewellery & Gems Fair (DJGF) 2019, organised by the Informa Markets in India ( formerly UBM India ) - a leading B2B Events organiser successfully concluded in Delhi on 30th September. The event witnessed par cipa on from over 300 exhibitors and 650 brands from 10 countries. The expo was inaugurated by Special Guests that included Bollywood Celebrity Radhika Apte; Mr. Yogesh Singhal - President, The Bullion and Jewellers Associa on; Mr. Michael Duck- Execu ve Vice President Asia Informa Markets Group Chief Representa ve for China; Mr Yogesh Seth, Regional Chairman North India, GJEPC; Mr. Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director for Informa Markets in India and Mr. Abhijit Mukherjee - Group Director for Informa Markets in India.

While inaugura ng the fair, Actor Radhika Apte said “Like most women, I love jewellery. I prefer old jewellery with a touch of vintage, that my mother & Grandmother would prefer. This year too, the focus is on the tradi onal and classic with diverse jewelry types and pieces. The necklaces, anklets, waist belts in a variety of designs are all the rage.

In modern mes, jewellry has evolved and become more about emo onal value, fashion and making a statement. Picking the right pieces of jewelry, therefore, becomes essen al. With the fashion trends changing frequently, you need to own classic and meless jewels that can

be worn across varied wardrobes.”

“With North India always loving tradi onal, classic and bold designs, you can check out the latest styles at DJGF, it's a match!” Apte further added.

Speaking on the show, Mr. Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director for Informa Markets in India, said “We inaugurated the 8th edi on of Delhi Gems & Jewellery fair at a very opportune me. The recent remedial measures that include the reduc on in the GST tax rate is undoubtedly a sparkling fes ve gi from the Finance Minister. The gems and Jewellery sector will see GST on cut and polished semi-precious items being reduced to 0.25 per cent from the current 3 per cent and that we hope will help in increasing demand for the sector”.

The demand of trending jewellery and its designs have increased corresponding to the sector's growth worldwide. DJGF provides a pla orm for the India's Fashion, Lifestyle, Manufacturing and Retail Industries to establish business opportunity in India, as it connects Interna onal Brands with largest gathering of decision makers, specifiers

and end users in India. The three day fair showcased unique and trending Jewellery and recorded a buyer par cipa on from Dubai, Singapore, Nepal, Malaysia and China. The fair was studded with a number of world-class workshops, and insigh ul seminars by Industry experts and was graced by key stakeholders. The fair also witnessed the fi h edi on of the Retail Jewellers Guild Awards (RJGA).

The list of prominent exhibitors this year included Shree Balaji Gold, Beera Jewellers, I P Jewellers, The Bank Street Jewellers, Vijay Enterprises, Goel Jewellers, N.K. Chain Pvt. Ltd., Unique Chain, Swaranshilp, Vikas Chain & Jewellery Pvt. Ltd., Uphaar, Zar, Rohtak Chain & Jewellery, Royal Chain, Blue Stone and Vimal Diamond, Zeya by Kundan amongst others. As a kickoff, Informa Markets in India held a series of successful road shows for the jewellery community in North Indian ci es like Haldwani (UK), Varanasi (UP), Ambala (Haryana) and are planning to do it in Gwalior (MP), Jodhpur (Rajasthan) and Meerut (UP). Onground shop-to-shop ac vi es over 150 ci es across India were also part of the preevent aci vi es. The fair is recognised as an integral part of the jewellery sector by the industry at large, with support from over 150 associa ons, eminent ones namely - The Bullion & Jewellers Associa on; Delhi Jewellers Associa on; Maliwara Jewellers Associa on, Delhi; Karol Bagh Jewellers Associa on and Meerut Traders Associa on.

Cover Story

Rising & Shining India's stature is rising on the world stage and a glimpse of the respect the country has globally was seen during the 'HowdyModi' event in Houston.

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f the 19th century can be characterized by the rise of industrializa on and the 20th century by the expansion of the market economy and globaliza on, the defining characteris cs of the 21st century are drama c and pervasive transforma ons and a shi from unipolarity towards mul polarity.

Triggered by disrup ve technological change, the onset of the Fourth Industrial Revolu on has led to fundamental changes in the nature and structure of the economy. With significant redistribu on of

the level, loca on and composi on of output, our organiza ons are more global and interconnected than ever. A hastening erosion of trust in extant poli cal frameworks and ins tu ons is driving human socie es to be more isolated and divergent. Concurrently, the ecological challenges and climate crisis have never been more existen al. In a nutshell, in a fragile world order, the need for a cohesive leadership arrangement to drive posi ve change is conspicuous in its absence. At the same me as these grave geopoli cal and ecological struggles, escala ng trade tensions and policy uncertainty have led to a slowdown in investments and business confidence.

With global GDP growth in 2019 downgraded to 3.2% with only a modest recovery projected for the next few years and credibility in the exis ng mul lateral rules-based trade system waning, the prospects are worrisome. In fact, with the increasingly strong probability of global

growth falling short by at least 1 percentage point from projec ons, the magnitude of the decline is comparable to the agonizing global recession of the early 2000s.

By contrast, the economic outlook for South Asia con nues to be strong. In the past half-century, emerging and developing economies have significantly enhanced their contribu on to global output from around 15% to well above 50%. Underpinned by strong domes c demand, private consump on and investment, a growth projec on of 7% suggests South Asia's resilience and strength to not only weather the global slowdown but also to contribute to propelling global growth forward.

Especially noteworthy is the economic outlook of the region's largest economy, India. With its GDP growth projected to again increase by 7.5% in the next few years, India con nues to be one of the

Cover Story growing global influence and appe te for enhanced visibility on a range of global ini a ves and mul lateral fora. With half of its popula on of working age, India has a unique demographic advantage.

world's fastest-growing major economies.

India's has been a drama c rise, deserving of the global a en on that it has commanded. The stage is set for India to realize its vision of becoming a $10-trillion economy in the next decade-and-a-half and to assist in appeasing the woes bese ng the world economy.

Steered by decisive leadership, India is rising to the occasion through a significantly enlarged global profile. India's commitment to renewable energy through voluntary and ambi ous renewable power capacity targets, a lead role in the Paris Climate Agreement nego a ons and the Interna onal Solar Alliance shows its aspira ons of becoming a leader in environment security and climate change mi ga on. India has also expanded its global stature in space explora on through widely celebrated breakthroughs such as its recent lunar mission and its dis nc on of becoming the fourth country worldwide to shoot down a low-orbit satellite with a missile. India, too, is more involved in global humanitarian efforts and development ini a ves, including infrastructure development in Afghanistan, the Interna onal NorthSouth Transport Corridor, the Ashgabat Agreement, the Chabahar port and the India-Myanmar-Thailand highway.

The Indian Prime Minister has ar culated his strong vision for an India-Africa coopera ve interest and India's deepened par cipa on in coali ons such as the Shanghai Coopera on Organiza on, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the India-Brazil-South Africa Dialogue Forum and the BRICS group demonstrate its

Climbing to 52nd spot in this year's Global Innova on Index, India is one of the few countries to have consecu vely improved its rank for nine years. Its dis nc ve demographic advantage, technical prowess and knack for innova on, fused with the leapfrogging opportuni es of Fourth Industrial Revolu on technologies, can consolidate its posi on as a dominant force in global economic, poli cal and strategic affairs.

Simultaneously aware that the quest for becoming a great power must begin at home, India has undertaken groundbreaking structural reforms mirroring its growth ambi ons and development priori es. Ini a ves aimed at revamping India's restric ve business regula ons have already borne fruit.

India's 65-place leap in the ‘'World Banks Ease of Doing Business rankings demonstrates an improved business climate and expounded investor confidence.

In the past decade, India has witnessed a mushrooming of start-ups, innova ng across domains such as digital payments, online retail, educa on and so ware. The number of Indian unicorns has also risen every year. Furthermore, in the biggest liberaliza on to occur in single-brand retail in the past decade, the government has recently permi ed retailers to sell goods online to Indian consumers before opening brick-and-mortar stores, significantly expanding the domes c market for global players.

In addi on, the implementa on of the Goods and Services Tax has removed tax barriers across states and unified various central and state tax laws, crea ng a single common market. Commi ed to ensuring that its economic achievements

correspond with inclusive development, India has also made big strides in social progress.

The expansion of the biometric iden fica on system under the Unique Iden fica on Authority of India has streamlined the delivery of government services and made resource disbursement through welfare programmes more efficient. Devising such a database of more than a billion people is no mean feat. In addi on, through the financial inclusion programme Jan Dhan Yojana, it has provided bank accounts for 300 million hitherto unbanked people,, crea ng new opportuni es for them to access credit and state subsidies and bringing them into the formal economy. Ini a ves such as the

Ayushman Bharat for universal health coverage in India, ‘'the worlds largest LED programme to improve energy efficiency, a sweeping rural electrifica on drive and a strong push towards broad-based energy access and security through the Ujjwala and Saubhagya schemes, among others, show India's ability to devise and implement a reform agenda that balances global aspira ons with cri cal development impera ves at home.

Looking ahead, India must con nue on its journey toward holis c structural reforms that are conducive to boos ng the sustainability and resilience of its economy, while also ensuring that the progress reaches a broad base.

It is important that India arms itself with modern infrastructure, social services and the connec vity becoming of a developed economy. It must simultaneously create jobs, wealth and value to accommodate the aspira ons of a young and upwardly mobile popula on and to help it eradicate

Cover Story poverty. Policy solu ons inspired by a vision of a regenera ve, inclusive and sustainable economy will ensure that the milestone of a $10-trillion economy coincides with a stronger India at the global, na onal and grassroots level, with ameliorated living outcomes for all.

Achieving that scale of change in a country with more than 1.3 billion people who speak dozens of different languages and dialects and have different customs and cultural prac ces is monumental. But with its geographic and demographic size and extensive diversity, India has a unique opportunity to shape global agendas. It can establish itself as a role model and inspira on for the world through its response to these opportuni es, with a resounding impact on our collec ve future. India can tap its own sphere of influence and emerge as a global leader by providing the world with replicable and scalable models for solu ons to cri cal global challenges.

Some Facts About India Demographics - A er China, India is the world's second-most populated country - with the current popula on exceeding 1.3 bn. With just one-third of the land area of China, India's popula on falls behind by only 47 mn. The country has a high popula on density of 450 persons per sq. km, which favours economies of scale and offers a vast and diverse consumer base.

About 62.5% of India's popula on falls in the working age group of 15-59 years.

Area - India is the seventhlargest country in terms of land area, with an area of 2.9 mn sq. km. the total agricultural land is about 60.4%, of which 52.6% is arable. About 23.8% of the total land area is covered by forests. The country has a land fron er of 15,200 km and a coastline of 7,516 km.

India is defined by the Himalayan Range, the world's largest mountain range, running from the country's north to northeast. It has the Thar Desert and Rann of Kutch in the west, and the watershed

region of the Indo-Gange c Plain in the east. The Ganga, India's largest river, flows through 11 states in the north before entering Bangladesh. Further, India is surrounded by the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean on the west and the south respec vely - and the Bay of Bengal on the east.

Infla on - India's retail price infla on rate rose year-on-year to 2.86% in March 2019, slightly above the market expecta ons of 2.8%. In March, the corresponding provisional infla on rates for rural and urban areas were 1.80% and 4.10% respec vely, compared to 1.81% and 3.43% in February. Infla on in India is measured using the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which measures the changes in the prices of 260 commodi es and services at the retail level. The country shi ed from Wholesale Price Index (WPI) to CPI in 2014, as the former does not account for the price of services as well as the bo lenecks between a wholesaler and a retailer.

Financial Market The financial market in India is facilitated through the Securi es and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)-registered stock exchanges, with Na onal Stock Exchange (NSE) and the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) being the most common. NSE is the second-largest exchange globally by the number of trades in equity shares, while BSE is Asia's first and currently fastest stock exchange. SEBI is the na onal regulatory body for the securi es market.

There are more than 7,200 companies registered on NSE and BSE as of FY 2019.

Corporates (including Public Sector Enterprises), high-net worth individuals and retail investors are the key drivers of investment in the country. India has a diverse financial sector, which is undergoing rapid expansion – due to the Government introducing several reforms to liberalise the market as well as schemes such as the 'Credit Guarantee Fund Scheme' and the 'MUDRA Yojana' to

provide easy access to finance.

Gross Value Added Growth in India's Gross Value Added (GVA) was an cipated at 7% in 201819, vis-à-vis 6.5% in 201718. The GVA from agriculture, forestry and the fishing sector grew by 3.8%, while the growth from manufacturing was recorded at 8.3%. The GVA jumped to 9.4% and 8.9% for the u li es and construc on sectors respec vely, recording the highest jumps amongst sectors. The financial services sector recorded a 6.8% growth in GVA. India's real GVA is expected to grow to 7.2% in 2019-20, according to the Reserve Bank of India.

Demone sa on - In November 2016, the Government of India announced the demone sa on of INR 500 and INR 1,000 currency notes and the issuance of new INR 500 and INR 2,000 notes. The purpose of it was fourfold - to eradicate counterfeit notes; curb black money and the use of money in illegal ac vi es like human trafficking and terrorism; fight tax evasion and bring financial transac ons under the digital radar. The decision was met with mixed ini al reac ons, and saw a decrease in the growth rate of the GDP - making it the lowest since March 2014. However, the bold ac on by the Government eventually benefited the economy through increased digital transac ons; rise in mutual fund and insurance investments and an increase in income-tax returns filed - from 38 mn in 2014 to 68.6 mn in 2018 - giving income tax officials the ability to track suspicious transac ons.

Developing Sectors Key sectors that are driving growth in the Indian economy include – construc on, financial services, technology, automo ve and healthcare. With the launch of the 'Make in India' ini a ve, the country has seen a spur in infrastructure development,

Cover Story with growth of 5.6% expected in the sector between 2016-20. Growth in India's financial services sector is driven by rising incomes and awareness, with India's asset management industry reaching $ 321 bn in February 2019, and becoming one of the fastest growing globally. India has the world's second-largest internet subscriber base, and is the third-largest tech startup hub. Its domes c tech-market is the fastest growing in the Asia-Pacific region. India's automobile sector is expected grow at a CAGR of 15% to reach $ 300 bn by 2026, and become the thirdlargest automo ve market in terms of volume. The healthcare sector in India is expected to grow at a CAGR of 22.9% to reach $ 372 bn by 2022.

Import and Export During 2017-18, India's exports and imports stood at $ 303.5 bn and $ 465.6 bn respec vely. Major items of export for India include precious metals and stones, mineral fuels and auto components; while major import items include mineral fuels, precious metals and stones and electrical machinery. EXIM procedures in India have been laid down in the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2015-20, with an aim to enhance trade to propel economic growth and generate employment. The Customs Tariff Act and Central Excise Tariff Act have laid down the du es that are levied on trade.

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) is the body that promotes and facilitates foreign trade, implements FTP and issues authorisa on to exporters.

Export Partners of India India's top five export partners in 2017-18 included the United States (15.7%), UAE (9.3%), Hong Kong (4.8%), China (4.4%) and Singapore (3.4%). The country's exports to China have seen the highest growth - over 31% from the previous year. Region-wise, India primarily exports to North America (17.8%), the European Union (17.7%) and the North-East Asian Countries (13%).

Share of Top Inves ng Countries - FDI

Equity Inflows - Top countries inves ng in India through FDI equity inflows during 2000-18 included Mauri us, Singapore, Japan, United Kingdom and the Netherlands.

These countries have invested $ 132.4 bn (32%), $ 79.7 bn (19%), $ 29.5 bn (7%), $ 26.5 bn (6.5%) and $ 26.4 bn (6.5%) respec vely during this period.

Major Sectors a rac ng highest FDI Equity Inflows Sectors in India that a racted the highest FDI equity inflows between 2000-18 included the services sector (financial services, banking, insurance, tes ng and analysis, etc.), computer so ware and hardware, telecom, construc on development (including townships, housing, etc.) and trading.

These sectors have garnered $ 71.6 bn (17%), $ 35.8 bn (9%), $ 32.5 bn (8%), $ 24.9 bn (6%) and $ 21.6 bn (5%) worth of investments, respec vely. For more informa on, read more about FDI in India.

Per Capita Income in India - India's per capita GDP (current price) stood at $ 1,979.4 in 2017, growing over 36% in the last five years. The per capita GDP at purchasing power parity (current price) was $ 7,166.2 during the same period.

Employment Scenario The employment rate in India was recorded at 93.1% during 2018, with the agricultural sector being the largest employer - employing more than 42.7% of the workforce. The services sector employed 33.5%, while the manufacturing sector employed 23.8% of the workforce. Top five sectors in terms of employment genera on in India as of 2017 were: Railways Construc on.

IT Food Processing Automo ve

Gold Reserves in India India is the world's largest consumer of gold and has the 10th largest gold reserves globally. The gold holdings of the country jumped from 598.6 tonnes in the last quarter of 2018 to an all- me high of 607 tonnes in the first quarter of 2019 - as per the latest report by the World Gold Council. Over 80% of the jewellery market in India is dominated by gold jewellery.

Foreign Exchange Reserves - Foreign exchange reserves in India accounted for $ 418.5 bn as of April 2019. With a jump in foreign exchange reserves, foreign currency assets reached $ 390.4 bn, while gold assets reached $ 23.3 bn. Reserves in India averaged $ 221.8 mn between 1998 to 2019. Foreign exchange reserves in India include foreign currency assets, gold assets, special drawing rights and reserve tranche posi on.

Tourist Arrivals in India Interna onal tourist arrivals in India were recorded at 15.54 mn in 2017, with an annual growth rate of 6.7%. India accounted for about 4.8% of the total interna onal tourist arrivals globally, the highest in South Asia. The country generated $ 27.4 bn from interna onal tourism receipts in 2017, accoun ng for 7% of the total revenue generated from tourism globally.

Investment Opportuni es Government of India launched the 'Make in India' ini a ve with an aim to support the country's manufacturing sector and elevate its contribu on to the GDP - from the current 17%, to 25% by 2022. The scheme has a racted new entrants such as Kia and MG Motors. Notably, the construc on sector has seen a steep rise in FDI through government ini a ves such as the Bharatmala and Sagarmala Programmes

Cover Story and the Smart Ci es Mission.

The Government of India also launched the India Investment Grid (IIG) as an ini a ve that aims to showcase a menu of investment op ons across India on a single interac ve pla orm, thus connec ng poten al investors to project promoters.

Taxa on - The tax structure in India is divided into direct and indirect taxes - levied on the taxable income earned by individuals and on the sale and provision of goods and services respec vely. Taxes are levied by both the Central and the State Governments. Some minor taxes are also levied by local authori es, including municipal bodies.

Some common direct taxes include income tax, stamp duty and registra on.

Indirect taxes include customs duty, central GST, central excise and VAT. The Government of India passed an Amendment in August 2016 to roll out the Goods and Services Tax (GST) simplifying the complex mul ple indirect tax structure. The GST rate structure has

been implemented under five slabs: 5% - common use items, including goods and services Ÿ 12% - Standard rate of goods and services (currently tax on abated rates) Ÿ 18% - Standard rate Ÿ 28% - Luxury and sin goods such as tobacco, high-end luxury goods Ÿ 0% - Essen al items including food and certain services Ÿ

Transporta on: Land, Air and Water Public transport is the primary mode of transport in India, with railways and roads being the dominant carriers. Road transport carried 90% of total passenger traffic and 67% of freight traffic in 2016. The total number of registered vehicles on road as of 2016 was over 230 mn, with twowheelers holding the highest share of this number - 73.5%. The number of registered vehicles grew at a CAGR of 9.9% - with cars, jeeps and taxis recording the highest CAGR - 10.1%. Further, railway transport carried 8,116 mnpassengers and 1,110.9 MT of freight during 2016-17. Air transport was used to carry 253mn

domes c passengers and 1.25 mn tonnes of domes c freight in 2018-19.

Infrastructure - India currently has 77 cargo-handling major and non-major ports, 86 interna onal and domes c airports and over 5.5 mn km of road network. The country ranked 44th in the 167 country Logis cs Performance Index issued by the World Bank in 2018. India has witnessed substan al growth in infrastructure spending over the past few years, with a budgetary alloca on of over $ 83 bn for the fiscal year 2018-19.

Ini a ves such as 'BharatmalaPariyojana', 'Sagarmala Project', 'Smart Ci es Mission' and 'Housing for All' are contribu ng to the growth of opportuni es in the infrastructure sector. The construc on sector (development and related ac vi es) a racted FDI worth $ 3.3 bn in 2017-18. The sector requires an investment of $ 777.7 bn by 2022 for ensuring sustainable infrastructure development.

Transforming India FASTEST GROWING ECONOMY

7.6% 2019-20

$2.7t

TOP INVESTMENT DESTINATION

$286B Apr 2017 - Mar 2019

POPULATION

1.5B 2025

VOTERS

900MM 29 2025

CONSUMPTION

2420 NEW VOTERS

133MM

$4T $245,000 (BCG)

8041

63MM

97MM

Cover Story

Make In India $4.8T OPPORTUNITY BY 2025

$300B

$115B

$82B

$100B

$112B

AUTO

AUTO COMP

AVIATION

BIOTECH

CAPITAL GOODS

$400B

$640B

$130B

$400B

$320B

CHEMICAL

CONSTRUCTION

DEFENCE

ELECTRONICS

FOOD PROG.

$30B

$80B

$110B

$350B

$30B

IT & BPM

LEATHER

MEDIA & ENT.

MINING

$55B

$150B

$142B

$260B

$150B

PHARMA

PORTS

RAILWAYS

RENEWABLES

ROADS

$40B

$223B

$125B

$419B

$7B

SPACE

TEXTILES

OIL & GAS

TOURISM/HOSP.

THERMAL POWER

WELLNESS

The Opportunity 2025 LAND TRANSPORT

URMAN INFRASTRUCTURE Renewable Energy

225 GW

Smart Ci es

100+

New Logis cs Parks

35

Industrial Corridors

5

10,000 Km

New High Speed Rail

800

New Express Highways

600+

Wold Class Rail Sta ons

40Km

Roads / Day

AIR & WATER TRANSPORT 400

Airports

111

Inland Waterways

20

New Dry Ports

Cover Story

Ease of Doing Business 65 places

World Bank’s Doing Business Ranking

Ease of Doing Business Ranking

#77 (2016) 24 places Global Innova on Index

WIPO

#57 (2018) 10 places

2012 2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

Logis cs Performance Index

2018

#44 (2018)

Make In India (launched Sep’14)

India: The Investment Des na on INDONESIA VIETNAM MALAYSIA PHILIPPINES THAILAND

PARAMETERS/RANKS

INDIA

CHINA

Poli cal Stability

1

2

4

4

3

7

6

Currency Stability

1

4

3

7

2

6

5

Hight Quality Products

1

4

2

7

3

6

5

An -corrup on

1

3

4

7

2

6

5

Low Cost Of Produc on

1

5

3

2

4

7

6

Strategic Loca on

1

5

3

6

1

4

7

Respect For Ipr

1

7

3

6

2

4

5

Infrastructure

5

2

3

7

1

4

6

Tax Privileges

2

5

3

4

1

7

6

Quality Of Living For Investors

3

5

4

7

1

6

2

Source: Blommbers Media Group- Na on Brand Tracker 2018

Cover Story

Inbound FDI- FY’15-9M FY’19 FDI inflows have grown at a CAGR of 13% during FY’15-18 driven government reforms and further FDI liberaliza on in retail, defense and insurance segment

India FDI Equity Inflows (BLN USD)

Reforms Measures: Increase in FDI Limits

+13%

40.0

43.5

44.9

30.4

33.4

Fy’15

Fy’16

Fy’17

2014

2018

Single Brand Retail Trading

49%

100%

Defence

26%

49%

Insurance

26%

49%

Railway

0%

100%

Avia on

0%

49%

Fy’18 9MFy’19

Hyderabad Ahmedabad 5% 4% 7% 25% Other Chennai 8%

Region Wise India FDI Inbound FY’18

Bangalore

31%

NCR 20%

India is 10th largest FDI Recipient in the world for FDI investment in 2018

Mumbai

Total: 44.9bln USD

INDIA: 2nd LARGEST STARTUP ECOSYSTEM 50,000+ STARTUPS IN INDIA Startup Hubs

Nashik, Vododara, Amrava etc.

Delhi Jaipur

Tier 3 36%

Tier 2 37%

Ahmedabad

Indore

Mumbai Pune

Tier 1 27%

Bhubaneswar Hyderabad

Bengaluru Jaipur, Bhopal, Patna ect.

Kochi

Chennai Coimbators

Major Hubs Upcoimg Hubs

Cover Story Rank

Count

GDP

%of Global GDP

#1

United States

$19.4 trillion

24.4%

#2

China

$12.2 trillion

15.4%

#3

Japan

$4.87 trillion

6.1%

#4

Germany

$3.68 trillion

4.6%

#5

United Kingdom

$2.62 trillion

3.3%

#6

India

$2.60 trillion

3.3%

#7

France

$2.58 trillion

3.3%

#8

Brazil

$2.06 trillion

2.6%

#9

Italy

#10

Canada

$19.4 trillion Rank

Count

24.4% Proj.

(2030,PPP) GDP

GDP(2017,PPP)

% Change

#1

China

$64.2 trillion

$23.2 trillion

+177%

#2

India

$46.3 trillion

$9.5 trillion

+387%

#3

United States

$31.0 trillion

$19.4 trillion

+60%

#4

Indonesia

$10.1 trillion

$3.2 trillion

+216%

#5

Turkey

$9.1 trillion

$2.2 trillion

+314%

#6

Brazil

$8.6 trillion

$3.2 trillion

+169%

#7

Egypt

$8.2 trillion

$1.2 trillion

+583%

#8

Russia

$7.9 trillion

$4.0 trillion

+98%

#9

Japan

$7.2 trillion

$5.4 trillion

+33%

#10

Germany

$6.9 trillion

$4.2 trillion

+64%

Indian Exhibi on Industry Indian exhibi on industry size is about INR 34 Bn in 2018.

India is third largest trade fair market a er China and Japan in Asia.

India is the fastest growing major market in Asia.

Over 70% of exhibi ons are organized in North & West India.

Expansion in exhibi on indoor capacity through new purpose-built venue construc on and exis ng capacity enlargement is happening.

Domes c organizers, industry associa ons and trade bodies dominate as exhibi on organisers.

Two thirds of India’s exhibi on is B2B & focused in established sectors.

Interna onal organizers are strengthening their posi on by acquisi on of local organiza ons, and improving exhibi on quality.

Cover Story

Indian Exhibi on Industry 2018 - Economic Impact Exhibi on industry contributes 265 bln INR to Indian economy: 33.4 bln INR direct impact through spend by exhibi on on rental and services whereas 231.3 bln INR of indircet Impact

Indirect Impact

Direct Impact

Food & Beverage Service

Exhibi on Industry

10%

Accomada on

26%

35%

74%

6.9x

Rental

10%

Shopping\ Recrea on

44% Domes c Travel

Total’ 18: 33.4 bln INR

Revenue generated by 195 exhibi on including spend on services

Impact through spending if 123 thsd exhibitors and 14 mio visitors

Overall Exhibi on Industry 2018 : Sector-wise General consumer, building & construc on, medical & pharma are lage industry segment accoun ng for - 28% of total gross area in 2018: most of industries s ll in nascent stage for exhibi on

Industry Split, 2018

10.1% General consumer show (B2B & B2C) Others 22%

9.9% Building & Construc on

Metals & Minerals 1.9% Travel & Tourism 2.0%

7.8% Health, Medical & Pharma

Houseware & Furniture 2.9% Tex le & Apparel 3.4%

6.6% Agriculture & Dairy

Automo ve & transporta on 3.7%

6.3% Industrial, Manufacturing &

Electrical & Electronics 4.3% Chemicals 4.3%

Engineering

4.5% 5.1%

Aerospace & defence

5.1% Food & beverage

Fashion, Accessories & Lifestyle

Special Story

The Role of HR Excerpts from Strategic HR Consultant and a Performance Coach, Sanjeev Himachali

H

R has evolved remarkably over the years. With constantly changing dynamics and technologies, it became impera ve for HR to upgrade and embrace a wide range of roles and responsibili es. Since every organiza on's goal is - survival, making profits, gaining market share or gaining recogni on, it posed a great challenge for HR departments to meet these expecta ons while con nuously innova ng and reforming the tradi onal prac ces. In a aining these goals, the HR interven ons today are focused towards building a client base, revenue reten on, and healthy client's por olio/balance sheet.

Gone are the days when HR was reckoned only as a personnel manager. Today, HR can safely be quoted as a revenue generator. HR in true spirit lives in the soul of wealth crea on by a rac ng the talent.

It is the outcome of investments that an organiza on makes in enabling the people and resources together to accomplish work. This defines the character of the

organiza on and the stability of which, over a period of me becomes difficult for the compe tors to emulate. The onus rests with the HR and its alliance with the management in establishing this strategy.

There has been a substan al and drama c evolu on in the past decade, shaped by factors like technological advances and a new genera on of workers with a zest of compe veness, resul ng in placing HR from insignificance to impera ve role.

HR has moved from back seat of transac onal support to the business enabler and strategic partner. The paradigm shi dictates that HR must first clearly understand the purpose of the organiza on and then work towards defining the culture. An iden fiable culture a racts employees, gives them a sense of purpose and offers a basis for par cipa on in decision-making. HR is one department that collaborates with other company departments to drive overall growth and directly align with business objec ves.

In today's world, communica on and collabora on is core to HR func ons.

Mostly HR drove ini a ves directly concerns with employees at large and their reten on, development, hiring and employer branding. With robust strategies and goals, HR func ons not only a ract and retain best talent but also drive performance. Since employees are the brand ambassador and spokesperson of organiza ons. HR now invests me in building a culture of values, a culture of learning and culture of engagement.

HR success has to be best measured by working on best returns connec ng with organiza onal goals. KPI's have to be quan fiable by means of showing results.

All KPI's which connect to bigger and smaller organiza onal vision is useful viz.

Employee produc vity, Employee turnover, Employee engagement level, me and cost to hire and ROI of L&D programs. The most significant contribu on one has to do in an HR role is to change the thought process, ensure

Special Story workplace condi on, cultural blending, trus ul leadership, training and development of people, etc. To achieve organiza onal goals, HR can start developing PDPs/ IDPs for key roles.

focused vision, standardize the process, delegate, trust and accept other's decision because now entrepreneurs don't want to go with system-centric approach only, rather prefer peoplecentric approach.

Usually, non-adherence of policy/ SOP, solo decisions without consulta on of HR, escala on of an issue at any hierarchy, performance measurement, rewards and recogni on, employee rela ons are some common issues that pop up from other departments. Hence, HR must ensure a good working environment that dispenses clarity of role and goal, promo on and progression, rewards, safe and hygiene

It is possible only when a company understands and formulates a vision that employees are key assets of an organiza on and by developing their personal ability, an organiza on can lead them towards professional and organiza onal goals. The HR leader now needs to work both within the HR group and with the organiza onal leaders to reshape everyone's expecta ons of what HR can and will deliver. The success of the

change will depend upon HR's ability to meet the real needs of the organiza on and the credibility it develops. One of the ways that HR can provide value is to understand how changing environmental, organiza onal, and workforce factors will likely influence the business, an cipate the associated HR needs, and be prepared to deliver appropriate solu ons to meet those needs. By maintaining a focus on workplace trends, HR can prepare to evaluate the impact that par cular changes are likely to have on an organiza on's people and processes and be prepared to work with the business leaders to decide how to respond by being ahead of the curve.

Performance Review and Appraisal

Human Resources are a complex world within the corporate structure with many posi ve and nega ve experiences of employees in rife who deal with the HR department on a regular basis. But, the HR department has always played a key role in retaining a company's employees, be it private or government. Using the company's strategic objec ves, policies and systems to maximize the management and employee produc vity, the HR department works to op mize the performance.

employees, instead of trying to work out terms and condi ons with the management, tend to move to a new organiza on at the first sign of trouble or conflict. Their dissa sfac on heightens during appraisals as employees find it the most stressful period of the year. The need to perform par excellence becomes a necessity and there is a feeling of being constantly watched. It's rare to encounter a sa sfied employee post appraisal.

Following are few grievances of employees:

With a surge in the number of companies in the recent years, companies are experiencing a trend where dissa sfied

Ÿ Ÿ

Being incorrectly assessed Being assessed by the wrong person in an unsa sfactory way

Immediate poor performances overshadowing good track record of the past Ÿ Personal rela onships impac ng official performances Ÿ Personal prejudices of caste, color, gender, religious, regional affec ng the appraisal Ÿ

Employees narrate stories of their trysts with the HR department. One such case is as follows: Mr. ABC (name not disclosed to protect privacy) reports that HR appraisal me has been the most stressful me for him in his organiza on. Performance of the current quarter tends to overshadow the

Special Story their performance.

en re year's hard work. Just before the quarterly appraisal, Mr. ABC had an argument with his boss. He feels that his performance was misjudged and the management, including the HR, was par al in their review process, leading to him resigning from his job.

Personal rivalries and misjudgements may colour performance reviews, but that is not always the case. Employees tend to blame HR for a bad performance review instead of their own inadequacies.

According to a recent survey, 60% of employees say performance appraisals are a waste of me, while 70% have no idea how they are evaluated. Companies like Adobe, Deloi e, and Accenture have dropped appraisals and are promo ng monthly feedbacks to avoid employee a ri on. However, the fact remains that most employers rely on appraisals for performance assessment. To that end, there are some ps that can ensure fair and efficient appraisals: Ÿ Set up a specific date, me, and loca on to hold mee ngs with employees. Ensure that the loca on is private and quiet so that the employees feel at ease to speak up and are also prepared with their answers and issues. Ÿ Make sure that ideas and thoughts are organized during the review process so that employees' job roles and their competencies are well understood. It is possible to provide a feedback only when there is a clear understanding between the HR personnel and the employee.

Ÿ

Ÿ

Ÿ

Ÿ

Ÿ

Keep track of an employee's all year performance and do not give precedence to the performance of a specific slot to assess the all over performance.

Allow a two-way discussion process to proceed during the appraisal.

Employees must feel that they have the right to voice their opinions.

It is per nent to ensure that nega ve feedbacks should not dominate the conversa on. Posi ve feedback needs to be interspersed with weaknesses regarding the job. Detailed cri cism in one session can lead to a disinterested employee, leading to employee defec on.

It is a known fact that employees dislike harsh cri cism, but doctored feedback does not help either. An honest feedback is essen al for both the employees as well as the organiza on. It is the duty of the HR personnel to enable an honest conversa on.

Appraisal me should be a me for learning, both for the employee and the management. Employees must get a wholesome picture of the goals and expecta ons for the next performance period and be able to chart out their goals, syncing it with company goals and objec ves. While the management should get a comprehensive view of the employee's opinion regarding his job and the company. A er the appraisal, it is crucial to see if there are any gaps between the report in-hand and employees' own statements regarding

On a more posi ve note, performance appraisal mee ngs are an opportunity for both management and employees to: Ÿ Discuss issues directly with the management Ÿ Recheck and evaluate goals while iden fying new ones Ÿ Understand how management decides on posi ve statements about one's performance and behavior Ÿ Discuss on areas that need improvement, prospects for new or increased mo va on, plans for career plo ng and upward hierarchical movement Ÿ Brainstorm on interes ng areas with the project to improve performance, opportuni es for increased learning, skill development and responsibili es Most appraisals are completed and signed off by the manager as well as the employee. The appraisal is kept as a record of the employee's development and progress. If minor issues crop up and are in dispute, HR can keep a record of the areas that have not been agreed upon and ensure to work out a plan to address the grievances and disputes.

The management, as well as the HR, must understand that an appraisal is not a disciplinary process and should not be used to impose disciplinary ac ons.

Appraisals should be an open forum to allow HR and management to talk about employee performance at work as well as any issues regarding career. Performance appraisals are only as good as the performance management system it operates within.

Companies that only do performance appraisals for the sake of doing them are was ng their me. Organiza ons that use performance appraisals as a method to chalk out a comprehensive performance management system have the advantage of accomplishing their objec ves, employee sa sfac on, and their business goals. In short, efficient appraisals can effec vely cut down employee a ri on rate, leading to a healthy business and management model.

Special Story

Key Metrics Every HR Must Measure

Time to Produc vity - The longer it takes for them to get going and be able to work on their own, the more it will cost you as a company because of training and because of reduced produc vity.

Candidate Dropout Rate - There's nothing more frustra ng than losing a perfect candidate a er a long and involved hiring process and making an offer. The candidate dropout rate needs to be measured in order to determine where problems exist.

Total Cost of Ownership Measuring the total cost of ownership that is to bring candidates on board,

prior to paying a salary, is another crucial metric. Depending upon the acquisi on goals and strategy, it could include branding costs, adver sing and marke ng costs, travel costs, lunch and dinner mee ngs, various preemployment workshops, and most importantly the amount of me spent by various teams within an organiza on.

Quality of Hiring Study a er study has shown that hiring “top quality” talent is the #1 priority for talent acquisi on teams and CEOs across the world. Too o en we have seen that companies lower the bar because they are not ge ng candidates that meet their standards or requirements. It may be a big mistake to

lower your standards as this is a slippery slope and quite damaging to your organiza on in the long run.

New Employee Engagement and Embracing of Culture and Posi on New employees should also be engaging within the company and embracing both the culture as well as the posi on. When an employee joins your firm even with a 15 years of experience, it is a s ll a big change and it is extremely important to ensure the engagement within the first 90-180 days and make sure he/she embraces your culture.

Millennials: The Job-Hopping Genera on Millennials have a reputa on for jobhopping. Una ached to organiza ons and ins tu ons, people from this genera on -born between 1980 and 1996-are said to move freely from company to company, more so than any other genera on.

A recent study reveals that over 27% of millennials say they've changed jobs

within the past year, which is more than three mes the number of nonmillennials who report the same.

Millennials also show less willingness to stay in their current jobs. Half of millennials-compared with 60% of nonmillennials-strongly agree that they plan to be working at their company one year

from now. For businesses, this suggests that half of their millennial workforce doesn't see a future with them. Since many millennials don't plan on staying in their jobs, it makes sense that they are hun ng for new posi ons. A study reveals that 60% of millennials say they are open to a different job opportunity. Employers once ruled the market with the privilege

Special Story The millennials are a highly intelligent lot with a rela vely short a en onspan. This genera on has been exposed to tradi onal marke ng mediums at a very early age and to grab their a en on is a highly complex and challenging task. However, since they are highly driven and resultoriented, they are caught-up with the poten al of trade fairs. To appease and reach out to this demographic, we need to communicate with them through means that appeal to them. Messe Muenchen India's USP is its team. MMI is an employee centric company.

Our mantra has always been 'People before strategy”. Providing room, opportuni es and a conducive environment for the employees to grow and learn is among our prime agendas.

Our open door policy, gives ample scope

to employees to engage their managers in a healthy discussion. Dynamic communica on boosts the inflow of crea ve ideas and out-of-the-box concepts. Bhupinder Singh, CEO – Messe Muenchen India Millennials are the largest genera on in the workforce right now. By 2025, millennials will account for as much as three-quarters of the global workforce, states a report by EY. Millennials are changing the way industries, businesses, and governments are run, the trade industry is no different. Millennials look forward to trade shows as they want an experience with learning, entertainment, marke ng, aesthe cs and networking.

They seek an experience-centric approach like product demonstra on and

interac on with booth staffs, they also look for giveaways. They are constantly looking for high impact memorable experiences as they are engaging with others in their networks. According to a study, the highest ranked responses at an average of 4.44, Millennials are significantly mo vated to par cipate in mee ngs and events for the purposes of career networking and job opportuni es.

In response to the ques on about how Millennials prefer to communicate, the most preferred method was face-to-face, ranked at 4.28 which means Millennials want to ac vely par cipate and just not listen. Millennials are helping the industry to grow because they truly live in the digital world. Technology is no longer just nice to have; it is a necessity. Because of millennials, trade shows are coming up with out-of-the box ideas to promote and engage with the audience in order to achieve higher foo alls. Yogesh Mudras Managing Director at Informa Markets India

Careers In Exhibi on Industry The versa lity of the industry means that every day is different – just as every trade show is different. This versa lity is characteris c of the business-to-business sector. Whether its construc on, healthcare, educa on or logis cs, every trade show is unique because every market that you're connec ng with is unique. The different dynamics makes the industry appealing – there is poten al in any role you have.

With over 680,000 people employed fullme, and thousands part- me, the exhibi on industry offers a vast array of career opportuni es with something for everyone. Whether you're into Public Rela ons, Opera ons or Sales, the sky is the limit. Working in the sector also gives you the chance to learn about the variety of industries that make up the exhibi on world.

That's why I would encourage everybody to take a look. The industry is par cularly a rac ve for young professionals, as it encourages them to take on different roles and responsibili es and to find solu ons by using various tools adapted to the market. Some of the amazing brains in this industry are seasoned 'exhibi on professionals'. However, the industry is always looking for fresh ideas and new talent. Crea ve young people

can drive change and innova on and add so much value. So, do women enjoy equal status in the workplace? The “Women in the exhibi on industry” research is a joint project between UFI and its media partner m+a, which provides insights into the percep on of women's and men's skills in the workplace. It also explores the poten al for progression for women in the industry and highlights the various female career drivers. According to the research, a staggering 82% of respondents highly appreciate working in the exhibi on industry and love their jobs.

As exhibi on industry professionals, we need to boast the merits of this industry, it offers so much. You get to know many different people, build some genuinely amazing rela onships, work anywhere in the world, and shape your career to achieve your long-term goals. How to say no to such opportuni es!

Special Story since 2014. This industry not only provides employment to a large number of skilled and semi-skilled workforce but also acts as a backbone for plethora of other industries as well.

Indian exhibi on industry size is about INR 33.4 billion in 2018 and it is one of the fastest growing in the world.

Indian exhibi on industry is one of the fastest growing sectors in India, especially

the third largest trade-fair market a er China and Japan in Asia. This certainly augurs well as our industry is people centric and hence the industry needs to a ract and retain the right set of people to propel its growth forward. We need to have good HR policies and sound mechanisms to ensure that our industry as a whole, becomes an employer of choice and people desire to be a part of it.

Over the years, India has also emerged as

Exhibi on Showcase interacted with some exhibi on industry players in India and understood their views about HR and their ways of managing employees in their organiza ons. Excerpts;

SUNIL MORE

NAVEEN SETH

GAURAV JUNEJA

Director, FairAct Exhibi ons & Events LLP

Director, Exhibi ons - PHD Chamber of Commerce & Industry

Director - Mex Exhibi ons

ES. How is the career progression defined in your organisa on?

Sunil More - First of all, let me men on that we are a small growing progressive company aiming at improving our delivery & services to our clients through sheer dedica on and sincerity. Though being small, we have developed our own procedures and processes to define career progression. The advantage of being small is that the management knows each employee personally and hence can develop Their career path by enthusing and encouraging them to take larger responsibili es. We have processes to measure efficiency and fulfilment of set targets.

Naveen Seth - Career progression in our organiza on is defined by the skill sets possessed by an individual. We believe in capacity crea on in an individual. Any

individual who is able to think laterally and has a problem solvingapproach progresses well within our organiza on.

Gaurav Juneja - We are very focused on impar ng training to our people. People are asset to an organiza on. If you have good people with you then you can do wonders. Regular training programmes are undertaken on rou ne basis. We try to give them other benefits too whatever deemed necessary. An open door policy is prac sed here and in terms of the career growth, candidate's calibre is taken as yard s ck. Here. A girl who used to work in front office now working in sales designated as Manager. So, as I said it depends on the calibre of the candidate and the quality which he or she deserve.

ES. What does your organisa on do to become the employer of choice?

Sunil - Leading from the front by management team mo vates employees to excel. We have not reached there yet, but strive to be employer of choice through crea ng feeling of a family, rejuvena on of employees apart from the proven ways of increments, incen ves and promo ons.

Naveen - Our organisa on empowers our employees to take decisions and inculcates a sense of ownership towards the job responsibili es assigned to them.

Working at PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry results in the overall development of an employee. Apart from this we are an extremely people friendly organiza on. Our Policies and framework of the organiza on are very strongly aligned towards the welfare of the employees.

Special Story Gaurav - Apart from offering them lucra ve packages, incen ves, perks and other benefits along with compe ve policies, we also celebrate birthday and wedding anniversaries of employees to make them feel like a family. We help them maintain work life balance by offering them flexible mings, shi s as per their convenience and work from home provision, if impera ve. Recognizing and rewarding employees' achievement by doing monthly R&R such as achiever reward, employee of the month etc.

Doing ac vi es on industry level along with other organiza ons and celebra ng Exhibi on day makes us a recognizable name in the industry, Conduc ng CSR ac vi es for employees to connect with society. Also, offering them the pla orm to have maximum on the job exposure on Interna onal level. Also we have open door policy to keep transparency in the organiza on at all levels.

ES. What is male to female ra o in your organiza on?

Suni - We are presently having a male to female ra o of 50-50 though the selec on on entrants is purely on the basis of his or her capability without any gender bias.

modules which have a quan fiable matrix to judge the change management in each employee. Each of our employees have to undergo a fixed quantum of training programmes in each calendar year. Our appraisal system has a strong weightage towards the training programme a ended by the employees.

rela onships, and gain exper se in handling digital tools. Women leaders bring special abili es to the exhibi on industry. Overall the exhibi on industry will immensely benefit from women leaders as they are crea ve, good in people handling and have effec ve communica on skills. A balanced combina on in lead roles will offer more insights and opinions on a variety of decisions which can help influence people across all levels.” Anbu V Director General at Indian Machine Tools Manufacturers' Associa on & CEO at Bangalore Interna onal Exhibi on Centre

Gaurav - About 40 percent of employees in our organiza on are female. So we have women power in our company.

ES. What does your organisa on do to upgrade the skills of its employees?

Sunil - Exhibi on management is mostly learnt through 'hands on experience' by professionals. To formalise their ideas and learnings and also to enhance their skills, we are regularly sending our employees to the presently only recognised training course 'Cer fied Exhibi on Manager' organised by UFI through IEIA. We also undertake some ini a ves like monthly mee ngs to exchange ideas, learned from other and discuss ways of improvement.

“Women play an important role in the exhibi on industry in a variety of roles.

Working in the exhibi on industry is a great career op on for women.

Exhibi ons are places where markets meet and new products and technologies are unravelled. Working in the exhibi on industry gives women an opportunity to work in diverse teams, travel, meet new people, do networking and cement

Naveen - Our organiza on believes in empowering the employees. We empower our employees towards decision making in the day to day func oning of the organiza on.

Apart from this we also have regular training programmes for our employees.

We also have on the job training programme for our employees. Our HR department also develops training

Naveen - We are an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of Caste, Creed, Sex or any other parameter. We have an equitable male to female ra o in our organiza on. In fact we have a women Empowerment Commi ee that does a lot of policy advocacy within the internal and external diaphragm.

Gaurav - By encouraging professional development and crea ng development plan, aligning employees with mentors, giving them the challenging assignments.

Also iden fying the training needs and arranging classroom & on the job training for employees-skill wise, department wise & role wise such as technical training, quality training, so skill training, managerial training etc. Also we hire freshes and train them to grow in the organiza on.

ES. How do you hire employees from compe ng organiza ons?

Gaurav - It's not that we hire only from compe ng organiza on. We train people coming to work with us from different industries. People are joining from the hospitality industry, publica on industry; finance background depending on the requirement of work. It is not necessary that an employee should be appointed from the exis ng industry but yes from the events also. So we have a mix of different industries.

Sunil - Most of our employees are fresh entrants in the exhibi on industry and we train them to our requirements.

We also hire employees based on their skills and seldom consider if they come from compe ng organisa ons. However, I must add here that we are 'incubators' for many of our employees who have joined other organisa ons and we are happy for them.

Naveen - Yes, We do hire employees from compe ng organiza on but that is not the only criterion for hiring an employee. We look for certain basic skill sets in any individual as per the KRA's assigned towards the Job Descrip on of any profile.

Special Story our strategy, at the same me I try and converge their diverse thought into more meaningful ac ons.

Gaurav - Your people in working in your organiza on are the biggest asset of the company. If you have good people, one can do wonders. To handle yourself, use your head; to handle other, use your heart- as rightly said by Eleanor Roosevelt.

Leadership is about inspiring lives & inspiring people & helping them to get their best to the forefront. It is about learning & teamwork.

ES. What provisions you have for incen ves and rejuvena on?

Sunil - Annual increments and promo ons are rou ne provisions for employee reten on but we also inculcate feeling of a 'family' in them by celebra ng their birthdays, encouraging good work done by them, par cipa on in social ac vi es, annual ou ngs etc.

Naveen - We do have financial incen ves for our employees. Reward and Recogni on is an integral part of the work culture of PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industries. If an employee fulfills all his KRA's as per the sa sfac on of his Line Manager, it adds weightage to his appraisals. We encourage all our employees to exhaust their leaves during a calendar year to rejuvenate them, thus enhancing their work output. We also have exclusive e-ups with Travel Agencies for availing a rac ve tour packages to make the best use of their leaves.

Gaurav - Depends, it's on different packages, different scales and different profiles. It can't be defined so it can be same for everyone. We do have incen ve schemes for employees. For sales we have monthly and project wise incen ve schemes and for other departments also we do have project wise incen ves. We do have reward and recogni on in place that brings both tangible and intangible incen ves for employees. Also we regularly do employee engagement ac vi es, team building ac vi es, Birthday celebra ons, fes ve celebra ons

and off-sites to keep people rejuvenated.

ES. Do you have some hiring arrangements with any colleges?

Sunil - No, at present we do not have bandwidth to hire students from colleges.

Gaurav - Though my HR would be the be er person to explain it, but I think selec on from ins tu ons like Amity and also campus hiring from several colleges including from specialized event courses are undertaken on regular interval. We do hire interns also for different projects where Hiring ac vi es are undertaken. As I said earlier we look for skill sets rather than background of an individual. We do not have any hiring arrangements with any college. We are open to talent irrespec ve of his background. We hunt for talented people with a vision and zeal to perform, who can take the organiza on to the next level ES. As a leader of your organiza on, what is your leadership mantra?

Sunil - As men oned above, we strongly believe in encouraging them to think as a member of a family helping each other in needs and sharing joy together.

Naveen - I believe in empowering my downline. I encourage my downline to think laterally and be innova ve in its approach. I encourage all our employees to have a problem solving approach and also develop a strategic thinking process which takes the organiza on to the next level. I encourage people to speak their mind and also embed their sugges on in

ES. What prac ces do you adopt for employee reten on and staff mo va on?

Sunil - As men oned above, personal rapport, family feelings, and leadership by example are few prac ces adopted apart from rou ne ways and means of reten on.

Naveen - As I said earlier reward and recogni on is an integral part of the work culture of PHD Chamber and Commerce and Industries. Reward and Recogni on is used as a vital tool for employee reten on and staff mo va on. We also believe in internal department transfer for retaining a good employee. We also have a system of Internal Job Pos ng by which an employee can climb the professional ladder quickly and fulfill his professional aspira on.

Gaurav - Retaining talent is quite challenging. Finding out the mo va on driver for employees and implemen ng strategies according to that work really well. Also offering them utmost exposure by doing role enhancement also is something that keeps them on their toes.

If you think working in an exhibi on and events space is about traveling and mee ng new people then you may be par ally correct. On the whole this industry has much more to offer. We at Informa

Special Story

Markets India always boost the energy of our employees and make sure they keep in mind the industry is meant for you! At Informa Markets India we solve the reten on problem by appealing to employee's desire to learn on the job and know more. A er an exhaus ve process of recruitment, new entrants undergo a plethora of training modules.

We have recently introduced onsite induc ons to show a glimpse of the sector and to enable industry as well as non industry professionals to know what it takes to deliver a show. Performance coaching is also something we look forward to this year that will help managers drive performance of their teams.

The exhaus ve orienta on programme helps them comprehend the matrix of the company in India and their role within it.

Simultaneously, these employees are also on-boarded to an online pla orm that links all Informa Markets India employees worldwide where they can connect with their peers in other regions and feel an invaluable part of the global corpora on.

Mandatory comple on of e-learning modules on workplace safety, systems and processes, and workplace harassment trains the new employee to always do the right thing.

That apart, prac ces that encourage team bonding and collabora ve culture outside the realm of work has to be encouraged.

As opposed to past hierarchical norms, an open-door prac ce by which all employees can discuss their issues freely with the senior management is gaining currently. Yogesh Mudras Managing Director at Informa Markets India

These modules nurture the Ownership Mindset in the employee, and he/she experiences the autonomy to be crea ve, strategies, execute and drive results.

Depending on the nature of an employee's responsibility, a consistent framework of training is used to enhance his/her competencies, a tude and knowledge, to keep pace with the constantly evolving expo business.

Employees, including those from the HR, are periodically sent for execu ve and corporate training programmes, seminars and forums, while industry experts are regularly invited to hone the knowledge of the team in special events and sessions.

ES. What perks this industry has in its store?

Sunil - What we have experienced is that the youth joining this industry is mostly driven by passion though a few may be here due to other compulsions. We have even mo vated women to handle 'onsite work' and I am proud to say that they are delivering to our and most importantly client's sa sfac on.

Naveen - The industry has a huge poten al in India. Unfortunately, the Industry has not been tapped to its full poten al in India. The industry can make a huge impact on trade and commerce of the country. I urge upon the youth of the country to take this as a carrier opportunity and infuse its crea vity in the development of this sector. The industry can make a remarkable impact if there are

relevant and new trade pla orm which encourages trade interac on. This industry can provide vital s mulus towards job crea on in the Business to Business Domain. The MSME Sector stands to gain the most from this industry.

Gaurav - See it's a very vibrant industry. If you have interest, If you have zest to meet new people, to accept new challenges then, this industrial has deďŹ nitely a lot to return you. This industry has a lot to oer to youth as they get to try their hand in almost everything since mul tasking is one of the traits one has to have. This industry has dierent departments such as Opera ons, PR, Sales, and Database etc for candidates to opt as per their interest and skills. Also amalgama on of variety of roles helps them achieve their goals and grow within the organiza on. Also networking is vast in this industry to give them a lot more opportuni es to connect with people.

ES. What are the challenges faced by this industry in terms of HR and the growth of people?

Sunil - I believe challenges are common and similar to other industries. Actually the challenges faced by smaller organisa ons are similar which include, formal training, a ri ons and emoluments.

Naveen - The biggest challenge faced by the industry in terms of HR and the growth of people is non acceptance of this sector as a carrier op on for youth in the country. HR needs to mo vate youth to choose this sector as a carrier op on.

Special Story HR also needs to chart out a growth plan for the young people choosing to opt a carrier in this industry. HR also needs to adopt favorable employee friendly policies to retain the employees thus checking the a ri on of employees. The event industry also needs to come together and draw up a cohesive plan to encourage youth to take Business Events as a professional carrier.

Gaurav - Recruitment comes across as a challenge since it's a niche industry, also traits required for different roles are also not easily available. There are not many colleges that offer specialized courses specifically for this industry hence hiring freshers and training them for specific roles can some mes get challenging however that brings diversity in talent.

Being dynamic industry preparing people for further growth and reten on is something that needs utmost a en on.

The Sales boy may also have to work in opera ons when situa on demand so. So, this is the job which compels a person to work in diversified roles with the ability to handle pressure. Skill building is one aspect that is being done at all levels.

12. Do you make use of any internal or external employee training programers?

Sunil - We have already sent our employees to CEM programmes as well as some 1-day programmes and conferences.

Naveen - Yes, we do use internal and external employee training programers.

Our HR department keeps developing programme for impar ng specialized training programmes to our employees.

We also have a very strong inbuilt system of measuring the impact of the training programme a ended by the employee to check the effec veness of the training programme.

Gaurav - Yes, we undertake plethora of training programs. We also provide training from interna onal trainers. Every year, an interna onal training program is organised for the capacity building of staffs. Quarterly, Domes c Training programs are organized. Recrea onal ac vi es are organised twice or thrice in a year. Every month, cake cu ng ceremony for birthdays is organised. So, we are ac vely involved in different engagements.

We send our employees for specialized training/courses like CEM (Cer fied in Exhibi on Management), webinars that happen on global level to give them interna onal exposure, Goal se ng training for managers etc. that certainly help employees / managers to implement the same prac cally and demonstra ng ways to take them into prac ce.

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India Jumps To 34th Rank On World Travel & Tourism Index, Only Middle-income Country To Be In Top 35

I

ndia has shown the maximum improvement among the top performers in global tourism, jumping from the 40th rank in 2017 to 34th in the Travel and Tourism Compe veness Report 2019 published by the World Economic Forum. In 2015 India was ranked at 52nd and at 40th place in 2017. The report states that India showed greatest improvement over 2017 among the top 25 per cent of all countries ranked in the report. The overall improvement in TTCI (Travel and Tourism Compe veness Index) score has helped India become the only lower-middle-income country in the top 35.

Travel & Tourism Compe

veness Index

Enabling Environment

UT Policy and Enabling Condi ons

Infrastructure

Natural and Cultural Resources

Business Environment

Priori za on of Travel & Tourism

Air Transport Infrastructure

Natural Resources

Safety and Security

Interna onal Openness

Ground and Port Infrastructure

Cultural Resources and Business Travel

Health and Hygiene

Price Compe

Human Resources and Labour Market

Tourist Service Infrastructure

veness

Environmental Sustainability

ICT Readiness According to the World Bank, a whopping 1.5 crore tourists visited India in 2017. Indian travel and tourism industry employs 2.8 crore people and contributes to 3.6% to GDP. Cultural heritage and natural resources are the factors contribu ng to India's high scores in the report. The country also improved its business environment and environmental sustainability. “India, which accounts for the majority of South Asia's T&T GDP, remains the subregion's most compe ve T&T economy, moving up six places to rank 34th globally. From a subregional perspec ve, the na on has be er air (33rd) and ground and port infrastructure (28th), interna onal openness (51st) and natural (14th) and cultural resources (8th). Compared to global benchmarks, the country can also add price compe veness (13th) to its roster of strengths. However, India s ll needs to enhance its enabling environment (98th), tourist service infrastructure (109th) and environmental sustainability (128th),” the report states. A Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave special focus to India's tourism sector in his Independence Day speech on August 15 and asked Indians to visit at least 15 tourist des na ons across India by 2022.

Top 10 Compe

ve Countries in Travel and Tourism

Travel & Tourism Compe

veness Report 2019

; Global Average: 3.8

Source: World Economic Forum

5.4

5.4

5.4

5.4

5.3

5.2

5.1

5.1

5.1

5.0

Spain

France

Germany

Japan

US

UK

Australia

Italy

Canada

Switzerland

Spain Takes The Top Spot Spain made it to the top spot in the World Economic Forum's (WEF) latest Travel and Tourism Compe veness Report (TTCR). Spain was followed by France, Germany and Japan, with the United States replacing the UK in the top five. The top 35 economies in the World Economic Forum Travel and Tourism rankings cons tute 84% of the global travel and tourism GDP and nearly 70% of all interna onal tourist arrivals. Six of them include high-income countries. Of the top 35 countries ranked, 20 are from Europe, 10 from Asia-Pacific, four from the US and one is from the Middle East and North African region. The report ranked 140 countries on the basis of four sub-indexes: enabling environment, travel and tourism policy, infrastructure, and natural & cultural resources.

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Electronica India And Productronica India Set New Record With The 2019 Edi on Ÿ 674 exhibitors from 18 countries Ÿ 26,310 visitors Ÿ 1,500+ mee ngs at the Buyer-Seller forum

e

lectronica India and productronica India 2019, a marquee event that gave a glimpse of the future, in the rapidly evolving area of Electronics System Design & Manufacturing (ESDM), ended today on a high note. The record-breaking edi on saw par cipants from across the world revealing new and exci ng trends for the growing electronics industry in India. electronica India and productronica India 2019 along with the co-located trade fair IPCA Expo, were spread across 33,000 square meters, with 674 exhibitors from 18 countries showcasing their latest technologies, products and services.

26,310 visitors a ended the trade fairs and the suppor ng programs to see the futuris c solu ons on display at the exhibi on grounds.

The number of visitors rose by 35 percent over the previous Delhi edi on. Jointly held with IPCA Expo and Smart Cards Expo, the synergies between the trade fairs have resulted in the se ng of these new records. The trade fairs took place from September 25–27, 2019 at the India Expo Centre, Greater Noida.

“We are pleased with the response the trade fairs and the suppor ng programs received. We plan on stepping up the

game a few notches more and outdoing ourselves in the next edi ons," commented Mr. Bhupinder Singh, CEO of Messe Muenchen India.

"The 2019 edi ons of electronica India and productronica India have shown remarkable growth in the interna onal and domes c par cipa on.

We are glad to be providing this stage to the global brands to reach out to the growing Indian market," commented Mr. Falk Senger, Managing Director of Messe München GmbH. The exhibi on covered a variety of interes ng segment hinged around concepts like semiconductors, electronic components, Surface Mount Technology (SMT), Electronic Manufacturing Services (EMS), Printed Circuit Board (PCB), amongst others. The growth poten al of the Indian electronics market is highlighted by the presence of countries and regions pavilions, from China, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan (Chinese Taipei) and the United Kingdom showcasing their latest products to support the growing manufacturing market in the region.

"The quality of customers at electronica India is beyond our

expecta ons. The show also gives us the opportunity to increase our brand image and awareness. Associa on with electronica India has been very frui ul for the past seven years and we look forward to the future opportuni es," commented Alex Oh, Senior Sales Manager, Hirose Electric Singapore Pte Ltd. “We have been par cipa ng in productronica India in the past ten years and we can see very good response. Every year the size of the trade fair and number of visitors is increasing. productronica India is one of the medium, which helps us to demonstrate our equipment to the exis ng and new customers," explained S. S. Bist, General Manager, Maxim SMT Technologies Pvt. Ltd. "This is our fi h year of par cipa on in electronica India and we thank this pla orm for the opportunity to address our customers and extend our brand awareness. We are

News Buzz

looking forward to increasing our business in India and electronica India supports our strategy. The response has been very good and we had interes ng mee ngs," said Selva Kumar, Director - Opera ons, Nichicon Electronics India Pvt. Ltd. Suppor ng Program – Conferences and Forums The 3-day event also hosted suppor ng programs designed to fulfil the needs of the growing electronics industry.

The India PCB Tech conference, which aims to create a focused knowledge forum to promote the PCB industry in India, was

highly appreciated. The e-Automo ve conference provided powerful, engaging, disrup ve and progressive strategic focal points to the stakeholders of the automo ve industry and the CEO Forum focused on "Realizing the vision of a trillion US$ digital economy–The role of components and design led manufacturing". The sessions and workshops covered the en re electronics eco-system and discussed the key concerns shared by the industry.

Samsung Electronics India Pvt Ltd, Secure Meter Ltd, Valeo India Pvt Ltd, Vivo Mobile India Pvt Ltd, Whirlpool Corpora on.

Mr. Manish Khosla, Purchase Head, Magne Marelli Powertrain India Pvt. Ltd. shared: "The buyer seller pla orm is an excellent pla orm as we are able to meet number of suppliers in a short span of me, the good factor and benefit is we were able to meet global suppliers who otherwise are not easily available for face to face mee ng."

The Buyer-Seller forum saw a remarkable a endance with a high interest from the electronics community to make new contacts and build future business prospects who engaged in more than 1,500 mee ngs. Some of the par cipa ng buyers were Amararaja Electronics Ltd, Denso India Pvt Ltd, Havells India Ltd, Liebherr Appliances India Pvt Ltd, Napino Auto & Electronics Ltd., Robert Bosch Engineering & Business Solu ons Pvt Ltd,

Part of the event was a hand-shake ceremony of Messe Muenchen India with Samsung Electronics preceded by Mr. Bhupinder Singh, CEO of Messe Muenchen India and Mr. KwangWoon Bae, Vice President Procurement of Samsung Electronics. The trade fairs furnish a conducive pla orm for Samsung Electronics to procure locally and source from India for their largest manufacturing unit in the country.

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The 32nd Annual General Mee ng of ICPB Held in New Delhi The 32nd Annual General Mee ng of India Conven on Promo on Bureau was held on Wednesday, 16thOctober 2019 in Samrat Hotel, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi.

The mee ng was chaired by Mr. Suman Billa, Chairman ICPB & Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.

Ms. Madhu Dubey, E.D. ICPB welcomed Mr. Venkatesan Dhathathreyan, Deputy Director General, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India& the Returning Officer – ICPB and invited him on the dais to conduct the elec ons to the ICPB Governing Board. A er elec ons the Returning Officer announced the names of ICPB Governing Board – 2019-21, with Mr. Suman Billa, Joint Secretary Ministry of Tourism, chairing the Board as follows : ICPB Governing Board – 2019-21

Name / Organisa ons Of Contestants

Positions

Office Bearers Vice Chairman

Mr. Amaresh Tiwari, AT Seasons & Vaca ons Travel Pvt. Ltd.

Hon. Secretary

Mr. Girish Kwatra, Mee ngs & More

Hon. Treasurer

Mr. Anuj Wadhwa, Plan It! Crea ve Travels Pvt. Ltd.

Ac ve Category – Segment Hotel

Mr. Abinash Manghani, ITC Hotels

-do-

Ms. ShampaDhali, Marrio Hotel India Pvt. Ltd.

Travel Agencies

Mr. Madan Kak, Minar Travels India Pvt. Ltd.

Tour Operator

Naveen Rizvi, ICE- Integrated Conference & Event Management

-do-

Riyaz UC, Spiceland Holidays & Entertainments Pvt. Ltd.

Congress / Conven on Centres

Sudeep Sarcar, India Expo Mart Ltd.

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Mausam Bha achargee, Grand Hya Kochi Bolga y

Professional Congress / Conven on Organizers

Amit Saroj, India A tude

-do-

Lalitha Kantham Rai, Marundeshwara Enterprises

Professional Exhibi on Organisers

Neeraj Dhawan, Falcon Exhibi ons Pvt. Ltd.

Immediate Past Vice Chairman

Mr. Chander Mansharamni, Alpcord Network Travels & Conferences Management company (for 1 year as per cons tu on)

Avinash Browne, Sun Business Machines Pvt. Ltd. Allied Category

Ripudaman Singh Chauhan, Translink Express India Pvt. Ltd.

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Food & Hotel India ( FHin) 2019 Concludes Its 2nd Edi on On A High Note In Mumbai Witnessed a 64% growth in buyer foo alls

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he three day Food and Hotel India Expo's (FHIn) 2nd Edi on 2019, organised by the Informa Markets in India - a leading B2B Events organiser, concluded successfully in Mumbai on 20th September 2019 with a 64% growth in visitor foo alls. A endees were introduced to top of the line products & solu on providers and project holders within the HORECA industry (Hotel / Restaurant / Catering), who shed light on India's business and market share in Food & Beverages, Tea & Coffee, Beer, Wine & Spirit, Sea Food, Meat, Bakery, Commercial Kitchen and Refrigera on Equipments; Hotel Housekeeping, Hospitality Technology and Interior Designs, Retail & Hospitality Food Services and more.

The expo was inaugurated by Guest of Honour - Mr Anurag Katriar, President, NRAI. Other Guest of Honour included Mr. Param Kannampilli, Chairman and Managing Director Concept Hospitality; Special Guest - Chef Manjit Singh Gill Corporate Chef ITC & President IFCA; Mr.

Thomas Schli , MD, Messe Dusseldorf India; Mr. Pankaj Shende, Senior Por olio Director, Informa Markets in India and Mr. Abhijit Mukherji, Group Director, Informa Markets in India amongst an August gathering.

FHIn was marked by the presence of buyers that comprised major hotels , restaurants, catering, food retailers chains, companies. The expo a racted a lot of interest from the Hotel Owners, Consultants, Department heads, food retail sector that included food importers, distributors, modern traders, food ecommerce companies to source the right products. It helped Interna onal and Domes c brands to target the right audience and the rapid growing HORECA market.

Mr. Yogesh Mudras apprised par cipants on how the demand for food and beverages has increased corresponding to the growth of the Indian popula on and the economy. He

explained the poten al that pla orms such as FHIn19 provides for India's Food, Hospitality and Tourism Industry to establish business opportuni es in Asia, as it connects Interna onal Brands with the largest gathering of decision makers, specifiers and end users in India.

Thanking the Entrepreneurs and F&B and Hospitality Industry' professionals for taking part in the three-day trade show, Mr. Mudras said "I would like to express gra tude to the par cipants of HORECA, F&B Industry for their excep onal enthusiasm, work and knowledge.

Drawing more investment to India and acquain ng the world with India's F&B market poten al and its growth trajectory has been our primary focus. Besides the domes c market, India also offers tremendous business opportuni es for interna onal brands to flourish in its fer le markets. Through FHIn19, we fostered not only trade alliances and businesses, but also enabled a futuris c research and innova on in the global, regional and local arena. '

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Kids India Celebrates An Outstanding Success Ÿ Ÿ

High quality exhibitors and visitors reconfirmed Kids India’s no.1 posi on 5,945 trade visitors from 34 countries

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ore than 300 brands were presented by high quality manufacturers and suppliers at the leading trade fair for toys, children’s products and sports goods industry in Mumbai. The par cipa ng companies who came from India and other countries, i.e. Czech Republic, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Malaysia, Poland and PR China were characterized by high quality products and latest innova ons.

Kids India which has yet again proved itself as THE industry pla orm for the Indian market is gaining more and more interna onal awareness as it a racted not only visitors from all over India but also 116 top buyers from 33 other countries including Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Canada, Chile, Egypt, Emirate of Ajman, Italy, Japan, Malawi, Malaysia, Netherlands, Pales ne, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Togolese Republic, USA and Zimbabwe and many more.

Buyers from numerous new countries indica ng the interna onal popularity of the fair has increased even more compared to previous years. Ms. Katharina Jano a, Managing Director of Spielwarenmesse India Pvt. Ltd. says “We got very good response from the industry i.e. from exhibitors as well as visitors. Our

endeavour has always been to further strengthen the fair by further advancing the high - quality standards not only regarding exhibitors and visitors but also to services. By introducing more valueadded offerings we have also upgraded our services. And we are very glad that our efforts are appreciated by the par cipants.”

Interna onal flair and quality The fair is supported by the Sports Goods Export Promo on Council (SGEPC) and Na onal Small Industries Corpora on (NSIC). SGEPC, which is working for the promo on of exports of sports goods and toys from India has been the supporter of Kids India since the beginning of the fair.

SGEPC organizes the Reverse Buyer Seller meet (RBSM) for interna onal buyers to Kids India under the aegis of Government of India. “The interest of interna onal buyers, in Kids India is growing year by

year. This year we had interna onal buyers from many new countries. We see it growing a lot more in the coming years which will further boost the exports, concludes Mr. Tarun Dewan, Execu ve Director, SGEPC. With this edi on Kids India has further strengthened its leading posi on in the market. The exhibitors, both market leaders as well as young trend se ers applauded the quality and standard the fair offered. Mr. Vijay Govil, Director, Frank Educa onal Aids Pvt. Ltd. says “Kids India 2019 has been extremely successful for us. The quality and quan ty of visitors was applaudable. We eagerly look forward to par cipa ng next year.”

“Kids India has been a fantas c pla orm for us over the last 3 years. We have grown from a small start-up with a small booth to becoming one of the largest exhibitors this year. We have leveraged the Kids India pla orm to build rela onships with key industry stakeholders both in India and abroad.

This year was a great success as well! - Mr. Dhvanil Sheth, Founder & CEO, Skillma cs.

The World of Toys pavilion comprised of all the interna onal par cipants from around the globe. Exhibitors were

News Buzz

flabbergasted by the posi ve response they received from the a endees at Kids India. Mr. Jakub Stanek, Sales Manager, Hriste Hrou says “The fair was well done, and we made a good number of relevant contacts. Looking forward to doing great business in India.”

Special features with added value This year’s highlights were the special areas Back to School Pavilion, TrendingNow and Sports Arena and Crea ve Arena - a special area which made its debut this year and encouraged the a endees to gain hands-on experiences on crea ve products. With fun and crea vity all over, visitors were able to relax and test the products themselves. “We have been par cipa ng at Kids India for many years now and it always manages to make us extremely happy with the results. This year we also presented the products at the new pavilion: Crea ve Arena and it added great

value to our presence. Looking forward to next edi on.” says Ms. Disha Katharani, Co-founder, Imagimake.

The TrendingNow Pavilion showcased the trends in India for 2019 - 2020: Team Spirit: toys which encourage coopera ve play, indoors and outdoors and Just for Fun: toys where the play experience is to the fore. Apart from the Indian trends, TrendingNow also presented the interna onal trending products from all around the world. The pavilion was a hit among visitors. “We have par cipated for the first me and it was an excellent response from the market.

Our product is very niche, ge ng such good response is a posi ve pat on the back. TrendingNow pavilion was a good spotlight for us.” says Mr. Sunil Prasanna, Partner, I Built It. The special pavilion Back to School was the hub of sta onery and school ar cle presenters from the industry. The pavilion gave easy access to the visitors who had special interest in the segment. Sports Arena – special area for exploring and tes ng outdoor, sports and leisure products witnessed many visitors exploring all kinds of products. Concurrent seminars which covered hot topics from toy safety, industry trends, the basic concepts and do’s and don’ts in retailing world, success mantra of the start-ups

from India, environment sustainability issues etc. rounded out the competent program.

Growing interest among trade visitors The success factor of the visitors to Kids India 2019 was the variety of exhibitors that the fair had to offer. The fair presented a perfect mix of leading interna onal brands and young innova ve start – ups who catered to the expecta ons of every a endee varying from the need of quality, quan ty, region, novel es and so on. Mr. Nikhil Dua, Category Head, Snapdeal, adds “It was fantas c as usual, I was able to meet some really good toy makers. Overall it was a well- organized trade fair” “The whole world is now star ng to recognise India as a very good manufacturing hub. With some large interna onal companies and so many start-ups coming up paired with a genuine interest of interna onal buyers in these companies, it is a clear indica on of the quality products offered here. This edi on of Kids India gave the much-needed posi ve push to the industry as a whole and we are humbled to be the engine to help bring out this mo va on in the market right now.” concludes Ms. Katharina Jano a.

Reshma

Deepak Sakpal

9820237631

9820287631

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Tips For Exhibitors What you need to know before se ng your foot on a tradeshow floor and how to communicate effec vely. Taking part in a trade show can be a significant cut of your company marke ng budget and resources.

The right loca on, an eye-catching stand design, water installa on, the electricity set-up, rigging, and any other addi onal services: it all costs a lot of money, so before you even consider filling your space applica on form, take note of the following five steps.

1) Select the right show for you: speak to your sales team and ask their opinion Every trade show organiser will adver se their show as 'the world's most important show ever'. You'd be er be there or you'll miss out. Take it with a pinch of salt. They are salespeople like you with the aim of boos ng the number of stands.

Before you even set your goals based on logical reasoning and accurate data, speak

to your sales team and ask their opinion.

Even if you are already familiar with the show, do not underes mate this task.

Whether you are a new kid on the floor or a regular one, make sure you also get some feedback from your customers or friends in the industry who already know the show well.

What was their overall experience? Did it work well for them and what did they like the most? What were they disappointed about? Did they close some deals, learn something new? Of course, your decision shouldn't be solely based on this 'word of mouth' research but you might some mes be surprised about what you can learn.

2) Always check the list of par cipants from the previous year Almost every organiser makes the previous year's exhibitors list available online. You can find out who from your clients, partners/ compe tors was present and who on the

contrary didn't think it was worth it.

Check if important brands were also present or if they simply snubbed the show. If they used to exhibit but dropped out this year, consider if others will not follow their example and won't show up.

3) Set your goals You are most probably going to exhibit at a specific trade show for: business reasons: sell, boost and develop your business, meet your exis ng clients, meet prospects, find new partners, see what your compe tors are doing, etc. Ÿ marke ng reasons: increase your brand awareness, be visible and showcase your products in a glamorous way.

If you can achieve both of these goals, be happy!

However, be aware that for mul ple reasons, in B2B business, very few deals are closed on the show floor. Ÿ

News Buzz This shouldn't discourage you from exhibi ng. Trust your sales people, show what you've got and close the deals right a erwards.

4) Set the budget Before you decide to invest in a stand however modest, set your budget right, with the best-case and worst-case scenarios. Based on my own experience with a major US company, when signing up for a stand design and stand construc on, you can expect the bill to be anything up to 20 percent higher than what you ini ally agreed.

5) Invest in communica on Even if you have the best product in the whole universe, it is s ll crucial to develop an efficient communica on strategy.

Select the right ming, a minimum of six months prior to the show. Ÿ Email is a great way to start with. Make sure you know who your contacts are

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(with Salesforce it must be easy now).

Use MailChimp or any other tool, where you can create an effec ve emailing campaign, check on the returns and opening rates.

Good for you, today, everybody is on social media, from the highest CEO to the company driver. You can therefore easily reach those of your interest.

However, if you are too much into selling with no added content you'll end up being either ignored or simply blocked.

Create a short but impac ul video clip about your company and what you offer. The smaller your company is the more impac ul your video must be.

Publish ar cles relevant to the industry wri en by your experts and how can you help to solve problems, invi ng people to your stand in the end.

Comment and always answer ques ons concerning your domain.

Make your products human. Always show people behind them. Take pictures of your development team when at work but also the salesmen in charge. Do not always use the same pictures, taken by the official photographer. This can become boring for your audience.

Get closer, try to involve your clients in your social media communica on. Ask

in a clever way what are they concerned about and offer your help. Ÿ See what the trade show organizer has to offer. Usually, they offer webinars and interviews with exhibitors prior, during and a er the show in which you can try to par cipate and speak as the expert. Ÿ Always include Date, Stand Number, Name of the show and Place on anything you are making public. Ÿ Be authen c and smile About the author: Monika Fourneaux-Ceskova is a marke ng and communica on specialist in the event & trade show industry. In the past, she has been responsible for the marke ng ac vi es of UFI, the Global Associa on of the Exhibi on Industry.

She is familiar with trade shows held in the Las Vegas Conven on Center, Rai Amsterdam, Dubai World Trade Center, KoelnMesse, London Olympia, and many more besides. She has also regularly worked for the World Economic Forum as part of the external staff at the World Economic Forum Annual Mee ngs in Davos. She is currently based in Dubai, UAE.

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Interview

“

The Indian exhibition industry is among the rst to gain the benet, making it a pulsating multi-crore industry.

There is a huge difference in trade shows than what it was a decade back and these changes will bring more business opportunities in India in the next few years.

”

Exhibi on Showcase reaches out to Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director, Informa Markets India ES. What is your opinion about the India Shining story? What kind of changes have you witnessed in the India story in the recent years?

Yogesh. When the term India Shining was coined in the year 2004, the purpose was to drive the Indian government campaign envisioned to promote India interna onally, and to ride on overall economic op mism. Since then we have come a long way to ensure long-term economic growth.

The current BJP government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is building a model of some of the largest and most expensive government programs to deliver goods and services, when we talk about economic growth, its means wealth crea on for the na on hence the

government has introduced reforms such as major tax cuts. The idea triggers the mass entrepreneur.

The Indian economy grew at a rate of 6.8% during 2018 and is projected to grow at a rate of 7% and 7.2% during 2019 and 2020, respec vely. Unfortunately, India's GDP growth rate slipped to 5 percent in the first quarter of 2019-20, the lowest in over six years, according to the latest official data. As rising uncertain es in a rapidly changing global landscape cause economic growth concerns, par cularly for emerging na ons, we have seen a series of structural reforms and it had both good and bad effects.

To list but a few, we have the introduc on of the goods and services tax (GST),

dismantling of the price control regime for petroleum products, reordering of the bankruptcy ecosystem, Jan DhanYojana, affordable housing, DeenDayalUpadhyaya Gram Jyo Yojana- electricity for all, PM UjjwalaYojana- an a empt to universalize the use of cooking gas, the campaign for Swachh Bharat, push for use of Aadhaar or the unique iden ty number, demone sa on of high-value currencies and last but not the least the series of ac ons targe ng corrup on and black money. India has emerged as a strong player and we have confidence that any upcoming downturn will be treated with utmost concern to boost the economy.

ES. Please share some sta s cs about the performance of various industries which

Interview you serve through your events Yogesh. Informa Markets in India is the country's leading exhibi on organiser that provides the industry with pla orms that bring together buyers and sellers from around the world through a por olio of events, content-led conferences, and seminars. Established in 2006, we host over 20 large scale events and 40 conferences across the country every year. This enables trade across a variety of industries and specialist markets from manufacturingto food, hospitality, jewellery, healthcare & pharma, and transport & logis cs.

In the year 2019, we concluded few big and well-known events in the industry like South Asian Travel & Tourism Exchange (SATTE) which plays an integral part in South Asia's growth as a tourism des na on and helps the global stakeholders to develop the source market poten al of the region as well.

Tourism is among one of the leading economic sectors of the world, surpassing 1.4 billion in interna onal arrivals in 2018, two years ahead of the forecasted me.

India stands at the 34th posi on in the

global Travel and Tourism Compe veness Report 2019. According to a recent FICCI-Yes Bank report, the Indian tourism sector is expected to touch Rs 35 lakh crore by 2029 and provide jobs to nearly 5.3 crores million people directly and indirectly.

Furthermore, the Gems and Jewellery

industry is playing a crucial role in the Indian economy, contribu ng around 7 percent of the country's GDP and 15.71 percent to India's total merchandise exports. This fastest-growing, exportoriented and labor-intensive sector brings in huge foreign exchange and gives employment to over 4.64 million workers, both in organized as well as unorganized sectors. The overall market size is expected to reach $ 110 bn by 2022 from approximately $ 60 bn in 2017. With the growth of the Indian popula on and the economy, the demand for food and beverages has correspondingly increased.

Driven by the insa able consump on of its 1.30 billion-strong popula on, the hospitality food sector con nues to grow and will further see a further rise in investment to the tune of an annual investment of $0.5-0.6 billion during 2019-2023 and a total investment of up to $2.8 billion by 2023.

“

Also, our country has a great scope for renewable energy, India is one of the countries with the largest produc on of energy from renewable sources. As a ma er of fact, India is running one of the largest and most ambi ous renewable capacity expansion programs in the world, India added a total of 7.8 gigawa s of power genera on capacity in the first half (H1) of 2019, at the end of June 2019, India's installed power capacity stood at 358.9 gigawa s. Now, all these major industries are covered by Informa markets in India and we are glad that we contribute to the economy through our pla orm and support them, bring them together under one roof for a be er future.

”

ES. How are your shows impac ng the industry to grow Yogesh. The exhibi on industry is s ll at an infancy stage, whereas, globally it is considered to be one of the major contributors towards the economy. The exhibi on industry is one of the effec ve tools of marke ng that bring buyers and sellers together. Exhibi ons are an effec ve catalyst for genera ng revenues that contributes directly to the economy.

The aim is to push boundaries every year to con nue expanding the base while adding depth and quality to the proceedings to stand out from the rest of the industry and make people understand the difference we are crea ng in the country's development. Despite the digital access being more convenient, ongrounds events have always been in demand across the world. It gives a pla orm to exhibitors and par cipants to get engage in face-to-face conversa ons and discuss the change in industry trends.

In such events, visitors get a chance to talk to the company representa ve to get an understanding of the product and the technology used. Also, buyers emphasize more on touch & feel experience before placing any bulk order. Digital help us to add more features for customers who couldn't make it to such live events, but on-ground presenta on always steals the show.

ES. What is your take on the Indian exhibi on industry Yogesh. India's venture into the arena of exhibi ons industry was overdue, but the market has witnessed a significant change and growth over the last 15 years with a promising future that is des ned to grow.

The proac ve policies of the Indian government and its bureaucracy have allowed for an ecosystem where businesses can be developed more easily.

The Indian exhibi on industry is among the first to gain the benefit, making it a pulsa ng mul -crore industry. There is a huge difference in trade shows than what it was a decade back and these changes will bring more business opportuni es in India in the next few years. Besides, we know from our research on the Indian market that Indians and also Asians prefer the human connec on more than mere cut and dry technology. And through quality exhibitors and visitors, we create an outstanding pla orm for this human to human interac on. What creates a sense of op mism is that India is waking up to the need for necessary infrastructure support for large exhibi ons with some large venues of interna onal standards

Interview and procedures, temporary imports into India, industry status, professional management, training and development at root level, health and safety ini a ves, greener and sustainable ini a ves. The trade standing would build the most important differen al, and it's one thing the exhibi ons trade perseveres to a ain these twelve months and on the far side. being built. The redevelopment of Praga Maidan in New Delhi, and the introduc on of world class venues in the Delhi NCR such as India Expo Mart at Greater NOIDA, and a new one in Dwarka looks good for the industry. Likewise, JioGardens in the commercial capital Mumbai was also the need of the hour.

Venue crea on holds the key to future growth, to scale up the exhibi ons and provide value to the exhibitors. With these developments, the industry will undoubtedly unleash years of pent up poten al.

ES. What are the opportuni es ahead in this sector in the coming years Yogesh. Over the years the event and exhibi on management has transformed into experience crea on with the union of technology, innova ve ideas, and crea ve content. To sustain in the market, it is necessary to have strong marke ng plans with a por olio of in-person events which is even more important. It plays a crucial role to recognize and maximize the effec veness of the company along with digital marke ng.

Trade shows are just not about buyers and sellers meet anymore; they have transformed. It depends on how we communicate throughout the year with the technology available, it is an essen al step for healthy exhibi on marke ng.

ES. What are the major changes which you have observed in Indian exhibi ons space over the last few years?

Yogesh. As the exhibi on industry con nues to fight issues and challenges like new exhibi on infrastructure, publicprivate partnership projects, venue rates, and tax compulsions, complex processes

ES. How suppor ve is the govt and various trade bodies Yogesh. The government has been very suppor ve and has been taking part in Informa markets in India events regularly either as exhibitors or being a suppor ng state or country partner. Also, we have the presence of senior-most government officials during our events thus endorsing the u lity of our events in the government's mission of growth & development. The number of govt projects, we support also gives government ini a ves to reach out to the right audience and to enable the industry to flourish.

ES. With a young popula on demographic, how can exhibi ons con nue to excite and engage the millennials/youth?

Yogesh. While it's clear that we have to reach out to a vast audience and our target lies in each and every business or industry sector but we also have to keep in mind the that millennials are the one whom we need to create memorable moment with, it is very challenging to achieve the same as the event and exhibi on industry has to be one step ahead of the millennials in terms of providing them with personalizing and unique experience. It just does not end here; we must build a rela onship between the brand and the consumer whether people a ending or watching it remotely. It is a con nuous effort to provide a endees with valuable opportunity connec ons in an increasingly digital world.

Staying ahead, while keeping track of sales and marke ng goals. Below are

some exhibi on/trade shows trends that are evolving and keep your audience hooked to unique demands.

Customer Oriented Booth Design - To draw the a en on of your customers it is important to have unconven onal design technique booths that are eye-catching.

You stand out when your visual appeal is the highlight and it is extremely important Mul -Sensory Experience - Depending on your industry you can incorporate elements that appeal to all other senses as well. In addi on to the brightly colored backgrounds and banners that please the eyes, it is important what you offer to your visitors in terms of taste and preference. For e.g., if you are in the food industry considered induvial wrapped cookies, chocolate, etc. It is an invita on to your visitor to explore more inside your booth.

Advanced Technology - The overall trend in 2019 is towards making the best use of technology keeping in mind the theme and business of the company. Using interac ve demos, presenta on through Virtual Reality helps you to provide your customers with unlimited informa on that you can't physically display in your booth. It's like minimalism is the key to maximize your foo all, it also simplifies the lives of others.

Social Media Engagement – This is effec ve because it evokes a response, it enables companies to reach prospects before, during and a er an event. Making it trend through has tags and exi ng tweets it helps the brand to seek the a en on of the visitors. It also shows how tech-savvy you are as a brand.

What's Next - It is important that you evaluate your trade show objec ves for next year as well, communicate to your audience what they can look forward to. It makes sense and has the greatest impact on your audience about your personas and industry. This is how you gain trust and accomplish your goals

Interview

Government can support the industry by educating the public on tradeshow, convention and event planning so that the nation can nurture much more international and proud global MICE event organizers

Phil Chung CEO, KINEXIN Conven on Management ( IICC Opera ng Company

ES. At the outset, for the beneďŹ t of our readers, please give us a glimpse about your journey as well as your organiza on.

Phil. Since we had won the LoA from India government to operate India's largest and newest conven on and tradeshow venue in New Delhi(Dwarka Sector 25) in May, last year, we've been working as IICC Ltd.'s oďŹƒcial consultant for pre-marke ng of the venue and maximiza on of the operability of the venue. My mother company which is Korea's largest interna onal venue as well as a global exhibi on organizer, KINTEX, had incorporated the India IICC opera ng company called KINEXIN Conven on Management Pvt. Ltd last year a er having received the LoA from the government under India law together with our consor um partner E-Sang Networks that is a big South Korean tradeshow organizer.

Interes ngly, this journey to India was made possible by the introduc on and recommenda on of my chairman, Chang

Yuel Lim, who is a former Deputy Prime Minister of South Korea and also a former Gyeonggi Provincial Governor and his fellow Korean, Indian senior Rotary Interna onal members. Chairman Lim with his vast global poli cal and business networks is helping us with all possible-con nuous support from KINTEX, government and various interna onal organiza ons, and even from media of both countries. And I and my colleagues in India as well as in Korea are combining that with my global tradeshow and conven on industry business networks and marke ng know-hows to seamlessly prepare for the successful opera on of IICC venue in New Delhi.

Over a year, the KINTEX teams have been providing all applicable technical inputs for IICC construc on to op mize the venue operability at a maximum level applying not only Korean venue models but also good venue opera on and technical

Interview models of Germany, Japan, USA and other important venues outside of India.

ES. How has your organiza on grown in the last five years? Also share your major milestones in the Indian markets?

Phil. Our IICC Opera on company, KINEXIN, was incorporated in July last year. And my mother company to which I s ll belong, KINTEX, has been expanding the business scope drama cally over the years, now KINTEX venue alone is staging about 1,400 tradeshows, exhibi ons, conferences and events of many types through a year, a rac ng over 6 million visitors from in and out of the country.

I hope IICC(New Delhi, Dwarka sector 25) becomes a be er performer in Asia through our constant mutual endeavors with promising and ambi ous organizers of India.

I trust IICC(India Interna onal Conven on & Expo Centre) is going be more than just a good comfortable venue; rather, just like our management philosophy, it will help organizers to induct more and more shows and mee ngs from outside of the countries through our constant coopera on as the venue partner who has oceans of experience in opera ng several venues as well as in organizing and launching numerous huge interna onal tradeshows and conven ons, immensely contribu ng to the na on's job growth, trade, business tourism and the crea on of regional economic spin-off to jus fy the existence of the venue. We will make great endeavors of every kind to make

IICC venue a wonderful trading and business communica on pla orm for all India and global businessmen looking for long term growth business opportuni es within and even outside of India, and also for the people in India promote and grow their business opportuni es most effec vely through pre/at/post show marke ng and communica on ini a ves in coopera on with our organizers.

ES. Talking about the exhibi on sector in India, how do you view it and what do you think are some of the key hurdles surrounding it?

Phil. I personally see mot much challenge in India's tradeshow sector, which has already become robust; we can occasionally see not a few unbelievably big tradeshows in India, the gross squaremeter that each show is using exceeds 100,000sqm or much more some mes. I haven't heard about this before I came to India. Some big examples are construc on machinery shows like BAUMA-Con expo India, EXCON, plas c industry fairs and Interna onal Automobile/Auto equipment expos. Even when there was no such huge indoor space to accommodate them all, they even have done it outside.

India's biggest hurdle might have been the lack of MICE infrastructure including world-class venues, but IICC will definitely become the solu on from next year, immediately providing about 120,000sqm of indoor venues(60,000sqm for 2 exhibi on halls and 60,000sqm for 7 story

conven on centre), together with 240,000sqm for the outdoor expo area which can be also used as the outdoor car-park. And very conveniently, IICC is located only 3-10km away from the New Delhi Interna onal Airport(IGI) and its Aerocity(deluxe hotel complex offering about 4,000 hotel rooms). And I think India needs more and be er des na on marke ng and sales of all types presen ng its immediate readiness to invite global businesses to the na on on the base of the 5th largest economy in the world which is growing 7-8% every year, ever-easing government regula ons, enthusias c technology and service startups, a rac ve and rich tourism resources, world's widest young English speaking popula on, and the ever-increasing number of global companies and their subsidiaries.

Promo ng the wide variety of tourism packages with IICC venue as a des na on package shall also help India get much more business travelers, government and related agencies can be crea ve in making various affordable but long las ng business tourism idea like u lizing shared smart mobility services to a ract and retain business travelers for a longer me, and also by developing many public private partnership ini a ves like crea ng new crowd-funding service sites to help fund promising exhibi on and mee ng planners to launch numerous new promising events. VR/AR companies can

Interview

be encouraged to promote India's rich tourism a rac ons through mixed reality technologies and combine with venue services.

ES. How do you see the future of exhibi on industry in India and also the role of er- II ci es in shaping up that future?

Phil. With most of top global tradeshow organizers from Germany, UK, China, etc. who already have well established their India opera ons in New Delhi or Mumbai, and considering of their years of exhibi on organizing experiences in many ci es in India, I think the readiness for further growth is more than enough if only they could enjoy the benefit of viable indoor tradeshow and conven on venues, which will be quite sa sfied by the emergence of IICC venue in New Delhi which is the economic and poli cal capital of India and together with many other ongoing development of MICE infrastructure.

“

Also, with the gradual economic development and growth, even the consumer show market and paidconference market will grow sector by sector bege ng numerous new challengers of the industry.

”

Corporate event sector will see its heydays upon the emergence of IICC venue, all global network marke ng, insurance, banking, electronics, carmanufacturing companies can host mega conven ons for thousands of dealers, retail store managers, the corporate incen ve market will surge, which will boost up all the related

economy at the same me. It is of no doubt that more and more corporate event organizers will be in need as the corporate organizers shall plan to increase their product sales by launching a huge corporate incen ves and conferences. For an example, IICC can put about 30,000 people under each exhibi on hall, and over 6,000 in just one of our auditorium in the conven on centre. Surely, the relevant level of venue supply will drive much more demand in that way.

Tier- II ci es will benefit from this big moves from India's capital ci es as well, in order to make the des na on more a rac ve, the organizers need to prepare a well made business tourism programs such as unique venue dining and team building experiences, half day or one day tour program for employees and spouses, buyers meet-ups in all different ci es during the show mes.

By seamlessly ming well with the opening of IICC and other venues in NCR region, Tier- II ci es should be quite ready to receive huge number of domes c and interna onal conven on travelers by crea ng numerous a rac ve unique and local tourism packages including its temples, malls, eateries, unique local clubs, golf courses, industrial complexes and more, they can present their idea to venues like IICC to co-promote the des na on India.

Also, India's Tier-II ci es can plan to a ract or build its unique venues appropriate for its local business and dynamics. One example is that the city of Lucknow with its wonderful Amphitheatre style of mall and many deluxe hotels

adjacent to its airport can pursue more of conven on facili es to accommodate more events, concerts and corporate events as unique venues.

ES. With new venues like IICC Dwarka becoming opera onal soon and earlier ones like Praga Maidan being refurbished, do you see India giving a tough compe on to other established countries in this sector?

Phil. India will surely challenge in the future but not now. But for the me being, I guess we will just increase the MICE pool of India by providing numerous business opportuni es to global companies and organizers within this MICE formats as the na on's large economy's being expected to grow at a gradual speed of 6-8% every year with the largest young and English speaking popula on, which is just unbelievable phenomenon to any other place in the world. Rather, with the growth of Indian MICE industry players, India organizers will get more changes to become global organizers to launch shows globally in the long term.

ES. How do you view the growth in the business rela ons between Korean and Indian companies especially in last one decade?

Phil. Both countries are ge ng closer than ever. About 15 Korea's largest conglomerates are ac vely opera ng in India, and with those conglomerates coming in, their related 2nd and 3rd vendors move in together with produc on bases, which is an awesome thing. Industry-wise, electricity, electronics companies are the most, and the second place is taken by

Interview construc on, car, machinery and heavy industries, which is followed by IT, trade, logis cs, transporta on, finance, retail, informa on services and wholesale sectors.

Only in 2018, both countries trading volume was increased by 7% with 21.5billion USD. I have no doubt that with our presence as the operator of IICC, much more Korea investment shall be fostered and a racted. Even now, through my chairman's support and the government's interest, many Korean ministries, regional governments and associa ons are showing meaningful moves to bring numerous special Korea pavilions within all recommended India tradeshows to be held in IICC venue, which is a very good sign.

ES. Comparing India with other prominent South- Asian exhibi on hubs like China, Dubai etc. what are some of the key differences as well as similari es you draw between them?

Phil. I think number of middle income families and their level of affordability in those emerging markets are currently different. And the economic development models are also different. Both government-led fast innova on and developments made possible to set up extravagant infrastructure over a few decades. India has the biggest liberal democracy, so, fast uniform decision making process may take some more me, but it will grow more robust and

sound in its own format. Many reliable sources advised that now is the ppingpoint of the country's exponen al growth with the youngest and widest popula on.

ES. How do you see the role of government in this en re ambit? What steps does the government need to undertake to further boost this sector?

Phil. Constant deregula on efforts will help. If organizers and venues have to renew many same permits and NoCs year by year, it will be less mo va ng. Once the venue gets a few relevant approvals, it will be much be er to have organizers to get focused more on its event organizing and marke ng efforts. Government can support the industry by educa ng the public on tradeshow, conven on and event planning so that the na on can nurture much more interna onal and proud global MICE event organizers. The venue as a partner can collaborate on educa ng the public in many ways together with MICE forums and associa ons.

For conven on, government-led conven on bureaus need to adopt financial incen ve models run by Korea, Hong Kong or Singapore to a ract thousands more interna onal congresses, conven ons and conferences. India's now well known for its mandatory corporate CSR budget policy, If some por on of current compulsory CSR budget can be allocated to be u lized well for crea ng MICE industry jobs, developing new

business tourism packages for local areas and funding good-purpose driven new shows and conferences, that will be the India formula. We can study more about this chance.

ES. With a young popula on demography where 65 % of the popula on is below 35 years of age, how can exhibi ons be a medium to excite and engage the millennials in India?

Phil. Not only exhibi ons but also conven on sector is very promising in India as youngsters wish to engage in professional communi es by a ending forums popular among their peer groups mixed with senior mentors. Exhibi ons in India considering of its youngest popula on may need to create a special format for the young professionals or young communi es of the industry; crea ng corporate mentoring sessions, exhibitors' special demo days for students, job fairs for each segment or even constant development of start-up accelera ng programs for each sectoral show can help. Running young advisory groups for the future expansion and development of the show can be considered.

I personally think Indian young talents can create lots of crea ve tech, innova on idea, start-up and even investment forums or paid-conferences as organizers as well.

IICC venue will welcome such fresh ini a ves.

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Interview

Exhibi on Showcase Talk To Bhupinder Singh, CEO – Messe Muenchen India A Young, Dynamic & Visionary CEO

On the role of millennial in today’s business environment:The millennials are a highly intelligent lot with a rela vely short a en on-span. This genera on has been exposed to tradi onal marke ng mediums at a very early age and to grab their a en on is a highly complex and challenging task. However, since they are highly driven and result-oriented, they are caught-up with the poten al of trade fairs. To appease and reach out to this demographic, marketers and exhibitors need to communicate with them through means that appeal to them. Hence digitaliza on is the next big thing that will take exhibi ons to the unprecedented heights.

Interview

ES. At the outset, for the benefit of our readers, please give us a glimpse about yourself as well as your organiza on.

Bhupinder. I forayed into exhibi ons about 16 years ago. I started off by offering concept designing solu ons to the exhibi on organizers handling the produc ons aspect of trade fairs.

In 2007, as a part of its expansion strategy Messe München setup its subsidy in India.

Messe Muenchen India was a small team back then. I joined the organiza on in 2007 as well. Both Messe Muenchen India and I have grown gradually since; one project at a me, one step at a me.

ES. How has your company grown in the last five years? Also share your major milestones in the Indian markets?

Bhupinder. Messe Muenchen India has grown rapidly since its incep on in 2007.

From a humble team of 6 to a considerably larger workforce and offices in Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru and Chennai, we have come a long way. Over the years we designed numerous shows that have catered to targeted markets.

According to EAC Interna onal Consul ng's report, Messe Muenchen India was the largest interna onal organizer with 288 thousand gross square meters in 2018.

Messe Muenchen India grew by 47% in 2018 compared to 2017. We are currently 4 mes the size, we were back in 2013 & 2014 and to accommodate our growing team we have relocated our headquarters in Mumbai to the plush office in Solitaire Corporate Park.

ES. Talking about the exhibi on sector in India, how do you view it and what do you think are some of the key hurdles surrounding it?

Bhupinder. The Indian exhibi on industry has witnessed tremendous growth in the last 15 years. From brining interna onal brands to India to bolstering the SME market, the exhibi on industry has been instrumental in boos ng the economy of the country. According to a research by EAC Interna onal Consul ng the exhibi on industry contributes an aggregate of INR 238 billion to Indian

economy, INR 32.3 billion directly and INR 206.2 billion indirectly through expenditure towards travel, accommoda on etc.

Some of the hurdles that exhibi on industry in India is facing is substandard infrastructure, disorganized organized shows and untrained professionals. The exhibi on industry in India needs to adopt a professional and systema c approach towards planning and execu ng shows.

Lack of professionalism and ad hoc expenses discourages many companies from par cipa ng in trade shows.

ES. How do you see the future of exhibi on industry in India and also the role of er- II ci es in shaping up that future?

Bhupinder. According to Exhibi on World Magazine, exhibi on industry growth rates in India are currently above the regional average in Asia i.e. around 8% during the last two-three years. Increasing investments in exhibi on infrastructure, rapidly mul plying shows across the country, rising number of niche shows in er 2 ci es are reinsta ng the fact that exhibi on Indian exhibi on industry is growing steadily as compared to other countries.

“

When it comes to trade shows, er 2 ci es are rapidly catching up with their metropolitan counterparts. Some of the most well curated and organized trade fairs in India today, have originated from er 2 ci es such as Vibrant Gujrat and India Interna onal Mega Trade Fair. Trade fairs organized in er 2 ci es represent niche markets and give local ar sans, tradesmen and entrepreneurs a pla orm to showcase their brand and products.

These trade fairs play an important role in promo ng the 'Make in India' campaign and eventually aid in boos ng the economy.

ES. With new venues like IICC Dwarka becoming opera onal soon and earlier ones like Praga Maidan being refurbished, do you see India giving a tough compe on to other established countries in this sector?

”

Bhupinder. Like I men oned before, one of the key challenges the Indian exhibi on industry is facing is substandard infrastructure.

The government and trade fair organizers have begun to understand the impact of low-grade fair grounds and facili es on the booming exhibi on industry and are now working towards it. Remodeling and refurbishment of iconic fairgrounds is a monumental step towards bolstering up the standard of trade fairs in the country.

As far as compe ng with interna onal countries goes, although we are inching closer but infrastructure s ll is only a part of the string of challenges and shortcoming we need to overcome. Yet, personally I feel we are in a much be er place right now, than we were 5 years ago.

A Quick Rapid FireES. Your favourite Book – Bhupinder. the power of Now by Eckhart tolle ES. Your 3 favourite holiday des na ons in order of preference – Bhupinder. Austria, Andaman nicobar, Kashmir ES. Your inspira on in life Bhupinder. Many; from a honest journalist to a commi ed sales person. Ocean of inspira on is too wide.

ES. Your most cherished possession Bhupinder. my library ES. Your message to the world Bhupinder. love, brotherhood and peace!

ES. Your favourite quote : Bhupinder. Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is me to pause and reflect :Mark twain.

ES. Your favourite food Bhupinder. Lebanese, south indian ES. Your favourite hobby Bhupinder. cooking

Interview

Exhibition Showcase Talks To Gagan Sahni, Director-business Development, International Trade And Exhibitions India Pvt. Ltd. does not have the necessary support infrastructure for large exhibi ons and thereby u lize economic opportuni es.

Over 800 trade shows are being organise annually, apart from thousands of small and mid-size shows in the unorganised sector.

Exhibi on Venues with high rental is always a growth barrier ll date. Now with development of new exhibi on Infrastructure has given hope to exhibi on organizer. I also have more hope from Government to boost exhibi on industry in India with suppor ve steps like Waver of GST for par cipa on of Interna onal companies, fast visa processing and customs clearance of exhibits, etc

ES. At the outset, for the benefit of our readers, please give us a glimpse about yourself as well as your organiza on.

Gagan. As you are aware ITE Group plc has been rebranded to Hyve Group Plc . The Hyve brand reflects the strength of our ambi on, our strategy and our new company values and its introduc on marks a big milestone in our con nuing evolu on.

Along with our new company iden ty, we recently introduced a set of aspira onal values which will become a central part of our culture and ul mately enable us to work as one team, and achieve our ambi ous goals together.

I am in exhibi on industry for last two decades and have been associated over 40+ brands and 100+ shows. Here In Hyve Our vision is to create the world's leading por olio of content-driven, must-a end events ES. How has your company grown in the last five years? Also share your major milestones in the Indian markets?

Gagan. Last 5 years have been quite amazing, our shows have got great market no ceability. The team has created unique integrated visitor promo on campaign and go terrific results.

Some of our recent shows at Mumbai this September Got 56% growth in exhibitors and delivered 76% growth in high quality trade visitors. The other all upcoming events have also achieved a remarkable growth. Hyve Team India is ready to repeat the culture of success with minimum double-digit growth in every show.

ES. Talking about the exhibi on sector in India, how do you view it and what do you think are some of the key hurdles surrounding it?

Gagan. The Indian economy, being the fourth largest in the world,

ES. How do you see the future of exhibi on industry in India and also the role of er- II ci es in shaping up that future?

Gagan. The Indian exhibi on industry has seen a decent growth in last few years. Various new shows have been launched, some exis ng shows have reached to next level, acquisi on of Indian brand for building industry por olio, etc. The increasing numbers of exhibitors and visitors are also confirming the trust of various industries in the exhibi ons. As various industries have already acclaimed the importance of Trade Exhibi ons, where industry get unique opportunity for Face to face interac on, Technology Transfer, Brand Building, Get new market, etc. The economical op on of Exhibi on Venue at er II ci es with support the exhibi on industry to develop at micro level . Also the Organizer may explore er II ci es for the regional cloning of their brands ES. With new venues like IICC Dwarka becoming opera onal soon and earlier ones like Praga Maidan being refurbished, do you see India giving a tough compe on to other established countries in this sector?

Gagan. New Delhi is always a preferred Exhibi on des na on because of its Global connec vity and MICE infrastructure . Since Exhibi on organizers has very limited op ons in preferred me slots in NCR Region, the re development of Praga Maidan, IICC at Dwarka and open ground op on at Areo City will defenly give a boost to overall exhibi on industry in India.

Few ci es in the world have developed and got a global no ceability on the basis of their exhibi on infrastructure, so Delhi can be a Game Changer for Indian Exhibi on Industry . The growing Indian economy and poten al for exhibi on industry has already a racted the global a en on.

ES. Comparing India with other prominent

Interview South- Asian exhibi on hubs like China, Dubai etc. what are some of the key differences as well as similari es you draw between them?

Gagan. I personally feel that Governments Like China, Dubai, Thailand, Indonesia, etc are more suppor ve than India for exhibi on industry. These Governments have special welcoming ini a ve for organizer to hold their event including Brand Protec on, Special Rates & Facili es, Fast Visa Processing, customs clearance of exhibits and more.

These Government support exhibi ons to support their MICE business in their respec ve countries On the other hand, the Government of India is more suppor ve for the industry with “Make In India” and various other industry friendly policies.

ES. How do you see the role of government in this en re ambit?

What steps does the government need to undertake to further boost this sector?

Gagan. Seems Government of India have started their process with funding, support & approval for new exhibi on venue across India. The future looks promising, few suppor ve ini a ves by government for exhibi ons in India, can really change the dynamics and place India as most preferred business des na on in global market. My thoughts process is Land bank support in development of new exhibi on venues Single Window Clearance for all approval through venue only Waver of GST for par cipa on of Interna onal companies in exhibi ons in India Ÿ Fast Visa Processing and customs clearance of exhibits for interna onal exhibitors & Visitors Ÿ Export Support program at site for Indian companies Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ

ES. With a young popula on demography where 65 % of the

popula on is below 35 years of age, how can exhibi ons be a medium to excite and engage the millennials in India?

Gagan. These days the young genera on is considering the exhibi on industry as a serious career op on. Some young entrepreneur has started new industry specific exhibi ons with their innova ve idea.

A Quick Rapid Fire ES. Your favourite Book Gagan. The 7 Habits of Highly Effec ve People By Stephen Covey ES. Your 3 favourite holiday des na ons in order of preference Gagan. Dubai, Goa & Dehradun ES. Your 3 favourite business des na ons in same order Gagan. India, China, UAE ES. Your inspira on in life Gagan. Use Proven Success Methods ES. Your most cherished possession Gagan. My Passion ES. Your message to the world Gagan. If you or We have the right A tude, we can really change the whole Life ES. Your favourite quote Gagan. If it is to be , it is up to me ES. Your favourite food Gagan. Indian ES. Your favourite hobby Gagan. Mee ng Friends

Some Past Pics From Various Events

Interview

Social media Is Completely Transforming The Way We Engage With Visitors Of Exhibi ons The market has comfortably opened up to digital opportuni es in a variety of areas. Social media is being seen as a key poten al area, changing the way events can engage with visitors all year-round, through more costeffec ve and op mized campaigns. Media and publishing houses are looking at exhibi ons as an extended arm of value proposi on. Businesses are changing, transforming & growing and they value trade fairs for the impact they create through high degree of personal par cipa on.

ES. What is your opinion about the India Shining story? What kind of changes have you witnessed in the India story in the recent years?

Sonia. India is shining bright on the world horizon, and how! The country is undergoing a remarkable metamorphosis as the world's second fastest growing economy with close to 6% growth rate, despite a global slowdown. Along with the rest of the world, India has had a strong interven on and influence of technology, aspira ons for urbaniza on and awareness for sustainability.

What keeps India ahead in the game is the promise it brings along with its young popula on and corresponding low dependency ra o, adequate rates of savings and investment, and the consistently growing integra on into the global economy.

ES. Please share some sta s cs about the performance of various industries which you serve through your events Sonia. Through our events, we serve a vast range of very promising sectors and industry niches. Under our por olio, we have the dominant shows in sectors like entertainment, IT, security, the HVAC and refrigera on industry, fire-safety, natural and cer fied organic produc on, home & personal care ingredients, paint and coa ngs industrys, powder and bulk solids, aluminum cas ngs, wood-working, ma ress technology, machinery and architectural peripheries. The reason we are sustaining growth in such focused spaces can be a ributed to the immense growth the respec ve industries are witnessing, addi onally it also ma ers that we have a team which comprises of domain experts, perfect growth strategy which we are able to derive from our parent events in Germany and a zest to constantly deliver relevant and useful pla orms for the benefit of the Industry.

ES. How are your shows impac ng the industry to grow

Sonia. NürnbergMesse India is one of the top three interna onal trade fair organizers in India. We have had a very encouraging run, with a stable, impressive por olio within 6 years of incep on in the country. In addi on, we have created new concepts, expanded ver cals. All these endeavors sum up to the Indian trade fair industry's remarkable growth.

ES. What is your take on the Indian exhibi on industry Sonia. India is the third largest trade fair market a er China and Japan in Asia. With an upgrade of infrastructure facili es, India would post double-digit growth rates for several consecu ve years and offer a pla orm for new innova ons, technology, business opportuni es and markets. It the space that the whole world is vying for.

ES. What are the opportuni es ahead in this sector in the coming years Sonia. Over the period, the exhibi on business has developed into a global-player industry. It substan ally contributes to building global networks, plays a crucial role in the development of economic regions and opens up new markets for export and trade.

In today's age of digitalisa on, trade fairs con nue to be of growing importance for the stakeholders. They provide unique opportuni es for staging brands, making direct contacts with customers, addressing the trade audience worldwide and for direct benchmarking with compe tors. It is about more than just advanced technologies. It is about how these technologies are brought together, and how organiza ons can harness them to drive opera ons and growth. It is eventually about customer sa sfac on by crea ng new opportuni es for innova on and pathbreaking ideas.

Interview A very significant leap in the opportuni es can be seen through the demand and consump on of digital services and products apps, digital adver sing, digital signage and so on. This is a global phenomenon, almost a norm, not only in Germany, but also in Brazil, the U.S., Russia, and Thailand. In response to the Digital India Campaign, a digitalisa on movement has also emerged across India, and is trickling down to the exhibi on industry, through valuable func ons like simplifying and documen ng processes and data management.

ES. What are the major changes which you have observed in Indian exhibi ons space over the last few years Sonia. Over the last few years, interna onal players are increasingly strengthening their posi on and por olio in India through acquisi ons of local shows and launching spin-offs of their global brands. German trade fair companies remain the most ac ve in Indian market both in terms of investment and event por olio. The market has comfortably opened up to digital opportuni es in a variety of areas. Social media is being seen as a key poten al area, changing the way events can engage with visitors all year-round, through more cost-effec ve and op mized campaigns. Media and publishing houses are looking at exhibi ons as an extended arm of value proposi on. Businesses are changing, transforming & growing and they value trade fairs for the impact they create through high degree of personal par cipa on.

ES. How suppor ve is the govt and various trade bodies Sonia. The governments, across the world, have managed to leverage the power of exhibi ons to further support their overall

growth. By inves ng in exhibi on infrastructure and suppor ng events, countries like USA, China, Germany, Italy, France, Russia etc. have effec vely used Expos in shaping the economy of their countries.

The Indian government, with its various schemes and provisions, such as Make in India, Digital India Program, Smart Ci es Mission, and mul ple upli ment and sustenance programs, hugely thrives on trade prospects. This means showcasing the Indian products and capabili es to the rest of the world; at the same me nurturing avenues for interna onal organiza ons to impart technology, training and opportuni es to the Indian companies.

We have had a tremendous support of government and nongovernment bodies like MSME, APEDA, MPEDA and many more, who support our mission for the cross-interna onal exhibits.

ES. With a young popula on demographic, how can exhibi ons con nue to excite and engage the millennials/youth?

Sonia. India has over 50% of its popula on below 25 years and 65% below the age of 35 years. By the next year, the average age in India would be 29 years. We are constantly trying to understand our younger, dynamic customers; create more posi ve experiences, generate greater par cipa on through dialogues, value their share of voice, deepen loyalty and build long term rela ons.

It is the me for strategic shi s to adapt to changing customer needs as they alter, and at the same me enhance our business offerings. To remain relevant and ahead of the game, we need to augment our levels of compe veness, proac vity and give due importance to technology & innova on.

Interview

Exhibition Showcase Talks To David DuBois, CMP, CAE, FASAE, CTA President & CEO International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) ES. At the outset, please tell us about the role of the Interna onal Associa on of Exhibi ons and Events (IAEE)?

David. I have the pleasure of being the President and CEO of the Interna onal Associa on of Exhibi ons and Events (IAEE). We have over 1,300 member organiza ons and that includes over 12,000 exhibi ons industry individual professionals. Currently, we have members in more than 50 countries. Thus, we are truly a worldwide and trusted associa on. I oversee our interna onal chapters, our staff of 25 execu ves and all of our ac vi es that include networking, mee ngs, EXPO EXPO events, advocacy and much more.

ES. Please tell us the background story of IAEE as to how it came into existence. Also highlight some key milestones achieved over the years ( meline) / graph and some vintage pictures?

David. IAEE began in 1928 and has enjoyed over 90 years of advoca ng and helping to grow the worldwide exhibi ons and events industry. One of our most proud accomplishment has been the launch and growth of our CEM (Cer fied Exhibi on Management) program. IAEE has over 3,000 CEM graduates and they live in over 25 countries.

ES. How can an event or an exhibi on sector company get associated with IAEE and what benefits will it avail a er becoming its member?

David. Any poten al industry organiza on can access our website (www.iaee.com) to review the many outstanding member benefits that are available. Our focus con nues to be on educa onal offerings, networking, marketplaces, advocacy and the overall growth of the worldwide exhibi ons and events industry. Our addic on focus will always be on professional and personal development of our over 12,000 individual members.

ES. In present mes, how do you the changing dynamics of the event sector globally?

David. Technology capabili es are welcomed and must be embraced to support the need to make more data and capabili es available to enhance the growth of our worldwide industry. Also, adult learning techniques and content are vital to help our industry members enhance their personal and professional a ributes and career opportuni es.

ES. What are the 5 biggest trends in exhibi on industry?

David. Technology (digi za on), educa on enhancements, advocacy emphasis, marketplaces expansion, exhibitor and a endee return-on-investment.

Interview ES. Exhibi ons are also a source of major tourist revenue for many countries. Can you share some sta s cs about US exhibi on industry and its overall contribu on?

David. The United States exhibi ons industry economic impact is es mated to be more than $97 Billion of overall results (direct and indirect). Job crea on/reten on, business expansion, cultural enhancements and more are very definable results of our industry worldwide.

ES. How is the economy placed in US and what kind of tradeshows have good prospects there?

David. The Center For Exhibi ons Industry Research (CEIR) tracks 15 different industry sectors. The most successful and recent segments include: industrial machinery, building construc on, communica ons/informa on technology, discre onary consumer goods/services and medical/healthcare.

ES. Has the industry reached its satura on there?

David. The exhibi ons and events industry con nues to expand at a healthy rate of approximately 2% per year. The USA industry, as well as worldwide, has not reached satura on points as we will always respond to the desired business needs of ci es, countries and regions around the world.

ES. What impact can be seen on tradeshows due to the US China Trade war?

David. The global trade nego a ons con nue to be problema c since they place a great deal of vola lity and uncertainty into the many valuable marketplaces around the world. No ma er where these nego a ons are taking place, we con nue to support and advocate for the need for fair and open trade.

ES. How can India and US collaborate closer with respect to trade shows?

David. India and the United States (as well and many other countries around the world) must con nue to expand fair and open trade that enhances the growth and success of all countries involved. IAEE has established important chapters around the world (USA, India, MENA and Mexico) as we con nue to

IAEE President & CEO David DuBois for being inducted into the Events Industry Council Hall of Leaders

collaborate with the country exhibi ons and events industry organiza on to educate, advocate and enhance our industry through a very collabora ve approach.

ES. How do you view the Indian market and the possibili es here?

David. The Indian market is very healthy and con nues to grow along the the excellent GDP expansion. The possibili es for con nued exhibi ons industry expansion are very good and being supported by the excellent infrastructure growth across India.

A Quick Rapid Fire ES. Your favourite Book David. Author Stephen King ES. Your 3 favourite holiday des na ons in order of preference David. Golf, Ski and Beach ES. Your 3 favourite business des na ons in same order David. Shanghai, Vancouver, San Diego ES. Your inspira on in life David. Honest and ethical personal and business prac ces / personal brand ES. Your most cherished possession David. My loving family and friends ES. Your message to the world David. Posi ve Personal brand is vital for a successful life journey ES. Your favourite quote David. ”The Golden Rule” philosophy ES. Your favourite food David. fresh seafood ES. Your favourite hobby David. Golf and Snow Skiing

David DuBois congratulates Sue McCart at the Annual Networking Luncheon & Awards Presenta on during Expo! Expo!

Interview

“

Markets are built on trust as are the exhibi ons we run, the marketplaces we maintain, and the services we provide. They all rely on trust. As organisers, venues and partners in the industry, our success is based on the trust our customers place in us. And Thailand’s global profile as a hub for interna onal exhibi ons has grown significantly in recent years, and our latest UFI research data show that the Thai market is well-posi oned for addi onal growth in the years to come

”

Exhibi on Showcase Talks To Kai Ha endorf, Managing Director And CEO, UFI ES. What can we expect at the 86th UFI Global Congress 2019?

What makes Bangkok an ideal des na on to host such an important event?

Kai. The Congress is the perfect place to meet over 500 exhibi on industry professionals from more than 50 countries, and it is the best pla orm to meet, network and gain insight. This year's theme is “trust”: the role that trust plays for exhibi ons, customers and organisa ons. Delegates can learn from speakers both inside and outside of the exhibi on industry, with sessions on technology and digi sa on, economic and poli cal developments, special interest groups focusing on dis nct topics

and regions, and much more. Bangkok is an appealing des na on for global tradeshows. Thailand's profile has grown significantly in recent years as a hub for interna onal exhibi ons and the market is well posi oned for further growth in the coming years.

Part of the decision to select Bangkok as this year's host des na on was due to Thailand's MICE industry, which already serves as a vital case study on how strategic development, policies and investments lead to tangible economic results that go beyond tourism. Hos ng the 86th UFI Global Congress will show the world about the readiness of Bangkok, in

Interview The Thursday evening Congress highlight: the Grand Night Out. The mo o this year is “Thai Thai : A Fun Fair Full of Life”; Ÿ A special session called “Focus on Thailand”, which is a programme by this year's congress host that will highlight Thailand's poten al as a dynamic pla orm of interna onal trade shows in Southeast Asia; Ÿ The post-Congress tour on the Patom organic farm and village outside of Bangkok, where par cipants will meet local farmers and sample tradi onal Thai cuisine. Ÿ

UFI heading to Sweden for the European Conference 2020

terms of its capability to host global events, which enhances the image of Thailand as the Mecca of world exhibi ons.

ES. The UFI Global Congress has a long journey. Please share its background story as to how it came into existence. Also highlight some key milestones achieved over the years ( meline) / graph and some vintage pictures?

Kai. The UFI Congress has been the major annual mee ng for the leaders of our industry since UFI was founded in 1925. We could write a whole book about its history (and maybe, with UFI's centennial coming up soon, we might so just that soon).

Over the years, it has evolved from an ini ally formal mee ng into the one global mee ng of our industry for today's and tomorrow's leaders, taking place all around the world.

The first me that the Congress was held in Asia was more than 50 years ago already. back in 1968, in Izmir, Turkey. We went to the Americas already in 1974, to Bogota, Colombia. If you look at the hosts in the past ten years, you see how global the event and the industry has become: We've been in Singapore, Valencia, Abu Dhabi, Seoul, Bogota, Milan, Shanghai, Johannesburg, and St. Petersburg This year, we're back in Bangkok, where we were once before – back in 2004. And – who knows – maybe we'll soon see an UFI Global Congress in India!

ES. What will be the highlights of 86thUFI Global Congress 2019?

Kai. The highlights will include: Ÿ A global range of expert speakers from within and outside the industry, who will explore topics of strategic interest and detail current trends and challenges that those in the industry are facing; Ÿ Special Interest Group sessions focusing on Marke ng, Digital Innova on, Large Venues, G3 Global Alliance, Best Prac ce Cases and HR; Ÿ The Next Genera on Leadership Grant Conversa on about Human 2 Human and if this is where the future of the exhibi on industry lies;

ES. More than 934 interna onal trade fairs proudly bear the UFI approved label, what are the main criterion for a trade fair to get an approval from UFI? Kai. The key element is that all the key metrics of an UFI approved event have been independently audited – so the market can trust the numbers on exhibitors, visitors, and space sold. In an age where “data is the new oil”, and many organisers also want to sell data driven products to their customers, having your own core metrics right and approved makes all the difference in a compe ve market. If you can show your customers that your exhibi on, your show is UFI approved, you can show them proof.

New research that we will release around the Congress also shows that many exhibitors are cri cal of organisers on exactly this point. So paying for an audit is a sound investment into your own reputa on, and we advise organisers to do so.

The main criteria for the UFI Approved Event label are as follows: Ÿ The exhibi on must have taken place twice already Ÿ Audited sta s cs must be provided about the exhibi on, in accordance with UFI's Audi ng Rules, detailing : Ÿ Total net exhibi on space Ÿ Number of na onal and foreign exhibitors Ÿ Number of na onal and foreign visits or visitors Ÿ The exhibi on must take place in an appropriate, permanent structure Ÿ The host venue must be fully func oning, well maintained, and have effec ve Health and Safety procedures in place Ÿ Exhibi on materials, such as catalogues and adver sing, are available in English.

ES. According to you, what are the top 5 trends in the exhibi ons industry?

Kai. The top 5 trends right now are: Ÿ

Shi ing trade pa erns and a ji ery global economy: Amidst a climate of poli cal tension, protec onism and false news globally, economic growth is slowing down. Indeed, the latest IMF forecasts point to rougher mes ahead for the global economy. Growth has become difficult to sustain, especially in the mature exhibi on markets and we will see players from the two largest domes c markets in the world (US and China) looking into op ons abroad. All of this offers new opportuni es to collaborate between

Interview organisers from different markets, and to capitalise on joint interests. Ÿ

Digital is everywhere – but it is not everything: Today, digital is everywhere and it has become a commodity. The adop on of the GDPR is leading us to a “new normal” in the way that we as an industry are dealing with customer data and are building up the in-house resources to achieve that. Data handling and data security will be big topics in the future. As show brands around the world increasingly communicate digitally with their customers and communi es all year round, data opera ons will be as relevant as show floor opera ons.

Ÿ

Ge ng the basics right goes a long way towards crea ng outstanding experiences: Exhibi ons should be as much about the show that a show organiser puts on around the show floor as exhibitors showcasing their products and services. We should also listen closely to our customers and their call for personal and individual experiences when they a end an exhibi on. We should also pay a en on to the “trade show fa gue” expressed by many visitors due to their changing expecta ons, and their interest in other channels such as online market places. Lastly, organisers and venue sare advised to deliver excellence in terms of the basics. The top five important elements for visitors are: sea ng, catering, queueing, parking and quality of exhibitors.

Ÿ

Consolida on and collabora on: Due to an intense level of M&A in the past two years, and the increase in be er venue space around the world, billions of dollars are flowing into our industry. All the signs right now are indica ng that our industry remains a rac ve for investors looking for solid, mid-term returns of their investments. The growing number of “out of the industry investors” is driving prices to new heights, but it remains to be seen whether all these bets on growth will be successful. Our industry's reputa on, however, is certainly benefi ng from this trend as it is helping our stakeholders to be er understand the economic impact that every show and

every venue creates every day.5. Ÿ Ÿ

Diversity in leadership: If you look at the teams who deliver and grow exhibi ons around the world, and who operate venues, you find a broad diversity of skills, na onali es, and qualifica ons. Slowly but surely, our industry is reflec ng this as well in its leadership. We have seen a steady flow of senior appointments enriching the diversity of boardrooms over the past two years, adding new voices to the respec ve tables – most notably women on the one hand, but also hires from outside of the industry. Both of these trends will accelerate, and con nue.

ES. What is the role and ac vi es of a UFI President? Now that UFI has elected V. Anbu as the next President, what does this signify for India?

Kai. In a certain way, as the President of the one global trade associa on for the exhibi ons industry, you are very much represen ng our industry.

The UFI President is the legal and official representa ve of UFI and chairs the Execu ve Commi ee, the Board of Directors and the General Assemblies. The role of the UFI President is to support UFI's mission and drive developments.

Mr Anbu will be the first UFI President from India in the history of the associa on and will con nue to work towards greater recogni on for the Indian exhibi on industry. In recent years, the Indian exhibi on industry has witnessed significant changes and thanks to its growing economy, India has an advantage in terms of a rac ng big- cket events. Mr Anbu's elec on to President will help to promote India even further as a major player in the exhibi on industry and he will work with UFI to discuss what can be done for the be erment of the industry in India.

Interview

Exhibi on Showcase Talks To Mr. V. Anbu, Secretary, Director General & CEO players into the market due to which exhibi ons are becoming more organized. New venues are being set up and exis ng ones are upgraded.India is at the beginning of the S-curve and the country has lots of grounds to cover to become a leader in the global exhibi on industry. Indian exhibi on industry will need support from all stakeholders including the centre and state governments. We also need a well-structured ecosystem along with a workforce with requisite skills that can play a cataly c role for exhibi on industry's growth.

ES. As the President-Elect for UFI in the next financial year what will be your thrust areas when you assume the new role?

Anbu. Being the President-Elect for UFI is an important responsibility and an opportunity to work closely with the global exhibi on industry. This will also be an opportunity to advance Indian exhibi on industry to its next level, enhance its brand image, improve the global connect and help the exhibi on industry find global recogni on. I am happy to support UFI's mission and driving developments.

ES. How can UFI help in expanding the size, scale and scope of the exhibi ons in India?

Anbu. UFI advocates for the support and development of exhibi ons at various levels worldwide. It is dexterous in addressing challenges and implemen ngsolu ons for its members to stay relevant in business besides providing numerous networking opportuni es for stakeholders for mutually beneficial collabora on. UFI conducts research and publishes reports relevant to the exhibi on industry which will help exhibi on organizers to explore new avenues. UFI also imparts training for exhibi on industry professionals to prepare them to face the challenges of conduc ng large-scale exhibi ons. Indian exhibi on industry is growing and UFI con nues to support it.

ES. Talking about the exhibi on sector in India, how do you view it and what do you think are some of the key challenges surrounding it?

Anbu. Indian exhibi on industry is growing at a pace of around 810% annuallyand it has the poten al to grow at around 12% despite the current slowdown in some industry sectors. This is evident from the increasing exhibi on por olios and entry of new

ES. How do you compare the state of infrastructure for exhibi ons in India as against overseas?With new venues coming up, the state of infrastructure is bound to scale up in India in the near future. Do you see this reflec ng in India? How do you compare India with prominent South-Asian exhibi on hubs?

Anbu. Globally, exhibi onsare key enablers for trade development and industrial growth and due to this, governments in various countries invest substan ally to develop exhibi on infrastructure.

This is true for South Asian countries as they have well developed exhibi on infrastructure and support services. Situa on in India is fast improving as we are at a nascent stage and is con nuing to grow in terms of business and trade development.

We are seeing central and state governments developing venues including those with smaller and mid-size capaci es to make trade fairs grow strong. This will pave way for development of exhibi on infrastructure and expansion of shows not only in metros but also to Tier 2 ci es.As this happens the quality of exhibi ons, support services and exhibi on industry outcomewill improve significantly.

ES. Please share your thoughts on therole of women in exhibi on industry?

Anbu. Women play an important role in the exhibi on industry in a variety of roles. Working in the exhibi on industry is a great career op on for women. Exhibi ons are places where markets meet and new products and technologies are unravelled. Working in the exhibi on industry gives women an opportunity to work in diverse teams, travel, meet new people, do networking and cement rela onships, and gain exper se in handling digital tools.

Women leaders bring special abili es to the exhibi on industry.

Overall the exhibi on industry will immensely benefit from women leaders as they are crea ve, good in people handling and have effec ve communica on skills. A balanced combina on in lead roles will offer more insights and opinions on a variety of decisions which can help influence people across all levels.

Interview

I've known David Audrain, Execu ve Director of SISO, for many years now.

We've o en met at industry events to debate the future of the exhibi on sector.

David's background and experience have given him a great insight into the interna onal exhibi on world – spanning borders, con nents and cultures. This makes him the perfect person to interview about the future of our business in these uncertain mes of economic and environmental change. I spoke to David about what 2020 might bring and how we should prepare for the future.

Exhibi on Showcase Talks To David Audrain, Execu ve Director Of SISO Tesi. David, we all know you as Execu ve Director of SISO, a leading event organiser. However, please tell us a bit more about your background and what you do at work day-to-day.

David. I have been in the exhibi on industry for more than 26 years now, previously I lived in Europe (I grew up in the island of Jersey off the French coast) where I was in the financial so ware industry and built a small specialized so ware company which I sold before moving to the USA in 1989. Like many in the industry I came to show management by accident, I took on a role managing member sales for the Texas Restaurant Assn and got the opportunity within a couple of years to take over the management of their Top-200 Exhibi on.

From there I was head-hunted to join Miller Freeman to run a division of manufacturing shows, which was followed by senior leadership posi ons at Hanley-Wood Exhibi ons, Advanstar, ConvExx, and finally brought in as CEO of Messe Frankfurt North America. It was at Messe Frankfurt that my partner Stephanie Evere and I first worked together, and in January 2012 we le and started our company, Exposi on Development Company Inc

(ExpoDevCo). Our business today comprises 14 events, a mix between tradi onal Exhibi ons, Confexes and Conferences, and also a mix between events we wholly own, several we have jointventure partners on, and some we management under contract to the associa ons or companies that own them. My partner, Stephanie, runs the majority of the day-to-day opera ons of our events, and I spend a li le more than half my me running SISO and its events, along with focusing on business development, partner rela ons, and the financial management of ExpoDevCo. Tesi: Over the years, countries in the Western world have traded more with each other as borders have become more and more open. We all thought that globalisa on would make everything be er for businesses. However, suddenly we have entered a me of trade wars and broken alliances. What's gone wrong?

David: The simple response is that we have some poor poli cal leadership currently, however unfortunately that is not an adequate answer… We need to look at the situa on from both the Exhibi on industry perspec ve and from the perspec ve of the industries our events serve. For Exhibi on organizers I believe that it is fair to say that the last decade since the end of the global recession has been one of global growth for the industry, with the sta s cs showing that the industry is now larger than it was before the recession. Much of this global growth has been assisted by the more open borders and growing global trade around the world, and much also by the growth of the emerging markets such as China and India. The exhibi on industry unfortunately cannot direct or build interna onal trade between countries, it mostly reflects the trade opportuni es

Interview compared to 10 years ago?

David: What we have seen con nue to grow over the last decade I believe is the need and demand from our customers for greater ROI from their investment in our shows and events. Exhibitors need to be able to jus fy their substan al investment with direct revenue and new customer growth, and a endees have limited me and budgets and need to jus fy the expense of both. So this creates opportuni es for crea ve organizers to do more than just arrange the event, we should be providing be er ways for our customers to interact and do business together, we need to do be er jobs of cura ng our events to ensure that it is the best and the newest and the most innova ve products and services that are on display, and that we are making it easy for a endees to find them and understand the opportuni es they provide their businesses. The growth of the “Confex” model over the last decade has also shown where smaller more interac ve and educa onal events provide significant value for both buyers/users and suppliers.

that countries open up, so we are to the most part reliant on the good leadership of governments around the world. We have already seen shows suffering losses of buyers and exhibitors due to the trade wars and trade barriers currently in place and growing, and we are likely to see more of this if the situa on con nues to get worse.

What organizers can do is bring the industry sectors together which they serve and assist them as they try to work with their respec ve governments, by showcasing the size and value of the markets our events serve, to the government leaders that have the power to open or close those trading doors.

Personally, I am quite despondent at the nega ve na onalis c leanings of many of the key countries responsible for trade, but I am hopeful that this trend will be short lived.

Tesi: “The exhibi on industry relies on the free movement of goods, people and ideas” is something we hear quite a lot.

However, this seems to be in danger at the moment. Should we be worried?

David: I am concerned that in the short-term we will con nue to see some declines in events par cularly affected by the interna onal trade and sourcing that requires open borders and free trade. But for the long-term I remain very posi ve about the future of the exhibi on and events industry as face-to-face events remain the most valuable tool for companies to grow their business!

Tesi: Whether things are ge ng worse or not is debateable.

However, one thing we can't deny is that mes are changing and the environment we do business in is changing faster than ever.

What new skills do we need in our industry to face this new reality

Tesi: I do apologise for the next ques on but as a German I have to ask this! As an American who worked for a German exhibi on organiser, what do you think is the best and worst thing about the Germans?

David: Ha! It was a great opportunity for me to take over the CEO posi on for Messe Frankfurt North America, and my predecessor was a German, so it was a pre y big change for them, and I suspect I was a li le more aggressive in my management style and risk-taking then they were used to!

I found and s ll find the Messe businesses extremely competent and logical in their business management and growth. They are however very risk-adverse, they will typically pass on many new opportuni es if the success poten al is not virtually guaranteed, this gives their global compe tors an advantage which can be seen o en by the very dis nct difference in the volume of acquisi ons made by the German Messe compared to the rest of the industry. But at no me should the Germans ever be underes mated, they are smart, talented and resourceful, and they don't o en give up. And they possess many of the leading exhibi on brands in the world!

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Air Conditioned (German Structure/Hangar/ Superstructure) Maxima,

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