Action-packed show reflecting market sentiments in the offing
bauma CONEXPO India (bCI) 2018, a fast-growing exhibition for the construction equipment industry, is scheduled to be held during December 11-14 at HUDA Ground in Gurgaon. With the country’s construction and mining sector going through a big boom, the fourth edition of the biennial trade fair has set high expectations to be an action-packed event.
We spoke to Mr. Bhupinder Singh, CEO, bauma CONEXPO India, to find out what’s in store in the upcoming show.
Excerpts:
How is the fourth edition of bCI shaping up? Can you share the overall statistics of the show and the international participation given bauma’s global brand reach?
This year we have already secured a 30% growth compared to the last edition which was quite remarkable. bCI 2018 reflects the market sentiment and has shaped up extremely well. I’d say that the overall market mood is upbeat and reflects a positive trend. We are happy to have country pavilions from Germany, China and Spain and exhibitors from 30 countries. This gives an international flavor and adds variety and innovation to the platform.
bCI 2018 looks to be the largest event for the bauma CONEXPO brand both in scale and size this year. What kind of visitor promotion activities have you undertaken to attract national and international visitors?
Bringing the right mix of exhibitors is the first step, and the vital move is to attract relevant delegates, buyers and industry stalwarts. I must assure you and the industry that this is our top priority and our efforts to accomplish this, both in quality and numbers, is well underway.
We are travelling across the country with our bCI roadshows, reaching out to the key buyer segments, including contractors and end-users, decision makers and purchase managers of our exhibitors. We have also visited Sri Lanka, met important associations in the construction industry and expect strong delegations to visit the show.
Our bauma network with its worldwide offices will bring in international visitors with an aim to drive country delegations. This is possible, thanks to our representation in countries outside India.
A new initiative taken called ‘buyer seller forum’ should improve the number of focused meetings with predefined objectives. For the first time, we have strong support from over 30 different national and international associations and over 30 media partners. Special thanks to all media partners for their support and co-operation. It’s a special year for bCI 2018, and with all these multipliers promoting the show, it’s going to be a collective success eventually.
What are the concurrent conference programs lined up during this year’s show?
bCI encompasses the entire range of construction equipments and building material machines. Hence the visitors can expect to see the full range, including the components and accessories. In addition, conference programs are planned to cover various themes and sectors. For the first time, we shall be organizing a conference on ‘Transportation Infrastructure’ covering the themes on the roads sector, urban transportation and railways. These sectors are currently driving the demand for the CE sector, and the conference will deliberate on the latest trends and challenges and focus on the way forward.
Our partner association, the Indian Construction Equipment Manufactures’ Association (ICEMA) will also be organizing a conference focusing on the latest technologies and financing. Currently the renting industry is undergoing a transformation with heavy demand and scope. This topic will be dealt by the Construction Equipment Rental Association (CERA). Overall, we will have more than half-a-dozen concurrent events aligned with the fair.
Will you please elaborate on your new initiative ‘buyer seller meet’?
This is a special initiative which we run in all our exhibitions in India. It has been successful and appreciated by key stakeholders. For the first time we will be introducing it at bCI 2018 where targeted buyer-seller meetings shall be planned ‘before’ the fair and organized ‘during’ the fair to enhance ROI for the exhibitors and ROTI (return on time invested) for the visitors/buyers. In a show as large as bCI it becomes important to have such a forum to bring the visitors and exhibitors together with pre-planned meetings where the visitors could have a business discussion with the exhibitors and meet their pre-defined objectives. I would like to use your platform to appeal to your readers to register themselves and make use of this forum which is offered free.
bCI had recently entered into a partnership with ICEMA. How is the move helping the country’s CE industry?
The partnership with ICEMA has been very encouraging and the relationship is growing with each edition. ICEMA, in its capacity as the largest association for the construction machinery sector in India, acts as a strong link between the industry and the Government’s decision makers and campaigns for growth and development of the industry. The construction machinery market in India is experiencing a positive trend, primarily on account of the increase in road construction and infrastructure development. Therefore, the partnership is a logical step to promote the transfer of know-how and development of infrastructure in India. This will enable us to examine and recognize trends and solutions for the Indian market and address them at the show. The synergies between the two strong partners are therefore being combined – for the benefit of the exhibitors and visitors at the trade fair.
Together, we can continue to expand and strengthen the trade fair as one of the most important platforms for industry stakeholders as well as the Government. ICEMA also helps give shape to the Government initiatives like skilling in the construction equipment industry through IESC. The collaboration with ICEMA is on a global level and is present at the bauma cluster shows and in CONEXPO CON/AGG in Las Vegas organized by the American Equipment Manufacturers (AEM). Under the co-operation agreement, the two partners are pursuing the joint objective of promoting topics in the industry through close collaboration and therefore reacting to the needs and demands of the exhibitors and visitors at an early stage.
As CEO of bCI, how do you see the Indian CE industry evolving with respect to mechanization, new technology and quality control as per global standards?
The equipment standards and features in India are matching up with the global standards, and customers are also becoming demanding, thus driving new innovations in the equipments planned for India. Advanced telematics, IOT, predictive maintenance, etc., are now coming into the market. Like the recent BS-IV norms which have brought new emission technologies, going forward it won’t be too late when we see alternative eco-friendly fuels in construction vehicles and earth-moving machines. Some companies also have manufacturing facilities in India and take India as a hub to cater to the export market. This has also positively impacted, to bring the global standards and know-how to India.