Paris/Delhi – 29 August 2024: UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, recently concluded a three-day Delegation Visit to Mumbai and New Delhi.
The delegation, led by Michael Duck (Immediate Past President, UFI), Kai Hattendorf (CEO, UFI), Sooraj Dhawan (President, IEIA), and Ravinder Sethi (Vice President, IEIA), and comprised of organiser and venue representatives from North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, visited five leading exhibition venues: Bombay Exhibition Centre and Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai as well as Bharat Mandapam (formerly Pragati Maidan), India Expo Centre Mart, and Yashobhoomi (IICC Dwarka) in New Delhi.
The objective of the tour was to provide UFI members with an opportunity to observe first-hand recent developments of India’s exhibition industry, particularly the new and increased venue capacity. The delegation was impressed by the quality of the new and refurbished venues, highlighting India’s growth potential. UFI emphasized that this expanded infrastructure is likely to unlock new growth opportunities in India, marking the country’s rise as an even more significant player in the global exhibition landscape.
The visit also underscored the robust partnership between UFI and the Indian exhibition sector, represented by IEIA, a long-time UFI member. In addition to the venue inspections, the delegation spent time discussing “India rising” – India’s economic growth driven by key factors such as the technology sector, growth of manufacturing and services, and public sector investment. All of this represents a new era for India’s exhibition industry.
UFI CEO Kai Hattendorf commented, “It is clear that India is at an exciting juncture. Its new and world-class venues will create opportunities for the industry to grow and evolve. Our visit underscored the country’s commitment to growth, innovation, and excellence in this sector. Due to time constraints, we could not extend this trip to destinations like Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Jaipur, and others. Still, a clear picture has emerged: India is ready to take on an even greater leading role on the global exhibition stage and the UFI community will be there to support the Indian industry.”
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