Hanover yields $1.3 billion for India

29 April 2006

Germany's Hanover Messe, the world's largest industrial and technology expo has generated new business worth approximately $1.3 billion for India. India is the partner country at this year's Hanover trade show, after a gap of 22 years.

According to Indian ambassador Meera Shankar, "India is very satisfied with the participation here, which has helped to project the country's strength not only in the services sector (IT) but also its capabilities and skills in manufacturing and industrial processes." Over 35, 000 visitors visited the India pavilion.

The Indian participation, coordinated by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), was the largest by a partner country with 320 small, medium and large firms taking part in an effort to showcase the country's high tech capabilities.

According to Ajay Khanna, CEO, India Brand Equity Foundation wing of CII, "The 'India Everywhere' campaign at Hanover presented a holistic experience of the country showcasing the best business opportunities and a kaleidoscope of authentic Indian culture, cuisine, music and dance. The campaign is a brand image promotion CII initiative with support from the Indian government.

Prime minister Manmohan Singh and commerce and industry minister Kamal Nath weighed in with a visit, interacting with business representatives to seek larger investment in India's infrastructure sector.

CII plans to take the 'India Everywhere' campaign to Tokyo during the Indo-Japan Business Summit, coinciding with the World Economic Forum's East Asia Summit in June 2006. Incidentally, "India Everywhere" was first showcased in association with the World Economic Forum at Davos.