Busworld India 2018, the 8th edition of the biannual professional bus and coach exhibition, to be held at BIEC in Bangalore from August 29 to 31, 2018, will be powered by the two major bus operator associations in India – the Association of State Road Transport Undertakings (ASRTU), the official national body of public transport operators in India, and the Bus Operators Confederation of India (BOCI), representing the private bus and coach operators.
Both the associations will organize their annual conference at Busworld India, inviting their members to Bangalore from the whole of India to attend the congress. The delegates will combine the conferences with an interesting visit of the Busworld exhibition where they can see the latest bus and coach models and other interesting products and services related to their business.
Mr. Rajan Sharma, President of InterAds, Busworld’s partner in India, is excited about these new partnerships: “Of course, we are very proud to announce our co-operation with ASRTU and BOCI. It clearly indicates that the operators are on Busworld’s side and we are indeed honored with this recognition.”
Mr. Didier Ramoudt, President of Busworld International, explained: “For a good Busworld show, it is necessary to have a right balance between public transport products and visitors, more focused on buses and tourism, and long-distance travel more focused on coaches. Having a double partnership is nothing less than fantastic. Because we all know: one plus one is more than two! For Busworld India this will definitely be a milestone.”
Busworld, ASRTU and BOCI: 1+1+1 is more than 3
Interview with Didier Ramoudt, President, Busworld International
Busworld joining hands with ASRTU and BOCI for this year’s Busworld India exhibition is a big boost to the fair. What does this mean to Busworld and the prospects of Busworld India? What value do you think your two partners – ASRTU and BOCI – would add to the fair?
All three main actors in the field of transport of passengers over the road in India have joined hands with different objectives: to challenge the future, to introduce innovations and to put the public and private transport of passengers over the road on the agenda being one of the most important economic veins in India, and this all under one roof.
All the three parties have decided to go for a win-win situation all over the line of which the end-user will pick the fruits. Busworld India will always remain as an objective mediator in the coach and bus industry, and this not only in India but in all countries where we are and will be going shortly: Belgium, Russia, Colombia, Turkey, China, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, the US and South Africa. We are a platform that brings together the different players. Working together with both ASRTU and BOCI seems like the perfect Busworld solution. 1+1+1 is more than 3, of course, for BOCI, for ASRTU and for Busworld.
The last Busworld India fair in Bangalore in November 2016 was a good one. Does Bangalore seem to be the right location for the fair – what do the exhibitors and visitors feel? What are your expectations from the upcoming edition of Busworld India? Who are the bus manufacturers and bus body builders who have confirmed their participation in this year’s show?
We have been in Mumbai for 12 years, but we left as there are no exhibition facilities matching the spirit of Busworld India. For a while we have been taking Bangalore into consideration. This was also inspired by our exhibitors to whom we always listen. It is the centre of the future automotive. Many OEMs and their suppliers are operational in the vicinity. The venue offers opportunities for growth and can accommodate our needs in the future. We do believe, together with our local partner InterAds from Delhi, that Bangalore is the place to be. We are looking forward to the best and greatest coach and bus exhibition ever organized in India. The main Indian bus builders are present, but for the first time we will have several Chinese OEMs introducing the new energy solutions for buses. Big brands will be present! Being absent as an Indian company would be a big mistake!
How is the overall progress as far as Busworld in India is concerned? With BOCI’s Prawaas starting off with a fantastic first edition in 2017, how do you see the future of exhibitions for the bus & coach industry in India in the coming years and what value/difference does Busworld bring to the table in this regard?
Busworld India has always believed that one day the authorities will estimate the public and private transport of people by the road as a real important added venue. Today the day has come. Not only in India but worldwide major cities are struggling with congestion, with pollution and inadequate reliable public transport. So it has become a national issue. The need for non-polluting vehicles woke the industry and worldwide innovative actions are taken. Busworld in this case, as a global actor, is the right platform to see the International progresses. So to tell in straight words: Busworld India is a global actor bringing innovation; as for Prawaas, for who we bring a big respect, is the right place to tackle the inside-country problems. There is a place for both of our organizations. But let us not lose sight of the public transport where the biggest change is coming today. ASRTU will tackle the issues of public transport, they are equally important as the private operators’ representation. So our worldwide experience remains at the disposal of these two organisations.