Trade fair firms zero in on India

India may soon become a trade fair and exhibition hub, what with a clutch of international trade fair companies planning to set up joint ventures or subsidiaries here.

These include Messe Munchen International (Germany), Reed (UK), VNU (USA), Alfahgar (Dubai), and Montgomery Group (UK).

The Indian Trade Promotion Organisation, set up by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, is the nodal agency for trade fairs and exhibitions in the country.

Various overseas trade associations have been organising fairs in co-operation with organisations such as Ficci, CII and FIEO.

Speaking to Business Standard, Messe Munchen International Chairman and CEO Manfred Wutzlhofer said, "India is the emerging market of the world, with a booming economy. We want to set up a joint venture company to organise fairs in the country and cash in on the trade boom." The company was in talks with various Indian companies for the venture, "...though nothing had been finalised," he said.

According to Roland Perger Institute, an acclaimed global supervisor of trade fairs, Shanghai, Mumbai, and Sao Polo were the cities with the maximum trade fair potential in the world.

Sources said German major Hannover Messe was also in talks with an Indian company for organising trade shows. Earlier, two German majors, Messe Dusseldorf International and Koeln Messe, had joined hands to form Cidex Trade Fairs, a subsidiary.

"The trade fair industry is highly unorganised in India. Though the country has a huge potential, the fragmented trade fair organisers are playing spoilsport," said Cidex Trade Fairs India Head Xavier Rebello.

Wutzlhofer of Messe Munchen International pointed out that Germany was the land of trade fairs, where a trade fair ground could be seen every 50 km. He was not happy with the infrastructure in India for organising such shows.