India
The pros and con of exhibiting in India Pros
Vast consumer market : India ’ s retail market is projected to reach $ 1.75 trillion by 2026 ( compared to France ’ s current $ 541bn and the UK ’ s $ 616bn ). Companies entering the Indian market have a significant opportunity to tap into large , new cash streams .
Geo-cloning of successful events : International exhibitions like Fastener Fair ( originating in Messe Stuttgart , Germany ) and ProWine Mumbai ( geo-cloned from Düsseldorf ) have been replicated successfully in India , with high exhibitor and visitor turnout .
Growing economic sectors : Sectors such as software and technology , healthcare , renewable energy , real estate , automobile , fast-moving consumer goods and fintech are booming , meaning international exhibitions in these areas can capitalise on the success .
Accessibility of venues : Major venues are generally close to international airports ( Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai , Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi , India International Convention and Expo Centre and Bombay Exhibition Centre are all under 15km away from the nearest international airport . This compared with London , where Stansted Airport , Gatwick and Heathrow are 53.8km , 85km and 101km from Excel , respectively .
Cons
Budget constraints : Despite the exhibition sector ’ s growth , India ’ s government allocated only $ 3.8m for its entire budget promoting tourism abroad . This includes stands at global trade shows such as IBTM and WTM , which were much less glamorous as a result . This funding is significantly lower than other major economies , and may contribute to a lack of visitor confidence and global perception of India as a destination .
Infrastructure and logistics : While venues like Bharat Mandapam and Jio World Convention Centre are worldclass , infrastructure in tier-2 and tier-3 cities requires improvement to facilitate smoother operations .
Disability access : Disability access has often been found to be lacking at Indian venues . At The International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2024 event at Bengaluru ’ s Sree Kanteerava indoor stadium , attendees with disabilities were forced to climb three dozen steps to make it to the stadium . There were even reports of disabled people crawling or being carried to their seats .
Hall 14 , Pragati Maiden complex in New Delhi
Top exhibition venues in India
Bharat Mandapam , New Delhi : Managed by the India Trade Promotion Organisation ( ITPO ), it is one of the largest exhibition centres in India , as well as one of the newest – opened in 2023 . The venue hosted the G20 Summit in 2023 . Bombay Exhibition Centre , Mumbai : One of the largest private sector exhibition venues in India , the centre recently hosted Pharmapack Expo 2024 and FoodTec India 2024 . Jio World Convention Centre , Mumbai : One of India ’ s most significant venues , Jio World spans over 1m sqft of convention , meeting and exhibition space . There is a 65,000 sqft pillarless exhibition hall – one of the largest in India . Notable recent exhibitions include India International Jewellery Show ( IIJS ) Premiere 2024 , India FinTech Festival 2024 , Retail Leadership Summit 2024 and Smart Manufacturing Expo 2024 .
Bangalore International Exhibition Centre ( BIEC ), Bengaluru : Offers world-class facilities and has hosted several large-scale exhibitions , such as such as India Electronics Week and Renewable Energy India ( owned by Informa ). India International Convention and Expo Centre ( Yashobhoomi ), New Delhi : A modern venue designed to host large exhibitions , such as Enhance Expo 2024 and World Forum of Accountants ( scheduled for February 2025 ).
24 Issue 1 2025 www . exhibitionworld . co . uk