We have served 2500+ exhibitors and 2,00,000+ trade visitors through our 50+ exhibitions in last one decade. Each show generates multiple opportunities for MSME and local industries.
ES. Indore Infoline Private Limited has been started in year 1998, how would you describe your organisation?
Rajkumar Agrawal. Indoline Infoline is one of the leading exhibition organizers in the central india, providing the industry with a platform to connect with buyers and sellers. To the best of our abilities, we have an inherent duty to contribute to nation building. Until now, we had concentrated our shows in Tier 2 cities, providing visitors and exhibitors with a high-quality infrastructure. It provides exposure to local industries, particularly MSME, allowing them to gain confidence, grow, and compete. We are gradually expanding into metro areas. In the last decade, we have served 2500+ exhibitors and 2,00,000+ trade visitors through 50+ shows. Each exhibition creates a plethora of prospects, particularly for MSME and local industries, resulting in the growth of a traders market in these locations for many national and international manufacturers and suppliers. Indore Infoline has played a critical role in the development of various cities in Central India.
ES. Could you provide the readers with a bit more about your early life and career?
Rajkumar Agrawal. We have started our organisation from the scratch. Previously, from 1991 to 1994, I worked at Larsen & Toubro, where I learnt about multi national companies’ work cultures. Then I decided to create my own business and work for myself, rather than being a job seeker – I became a job creator. Previously, everything was a battle to set up and run the firm. The only mantra for success is determination and commitment to the job, honesty, and hard effort. There is no shortcut way to success. During my journey, I did not hesitate to take on any task that came my way. You should be ready to face all kinds of challenges if you are into business.
You work 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Keep in mind that you must be prepared to perform the duties of your colleagues or employees.
ES. What was the objective behind statring publication of “Infoline yellow Pages.” Please share with us how has your organisation been instrumental in providing quality information about the cities of Madhya Pradesh on a click?
Rajkumar Agrawal. The major goal of starting to publish “Infoline Yellow Pages” was to provide helpful business information to users for day-to-day ease. Those were the days when the only way to receive accurate information about different businesses in any city was to consult the Yellow Pages. We are pioneer in publishing multicolour yellow pages from year 2000. We began printing Yellow Pages in Indore and quickly expanded to include Bhopal, Raipur, Jabalapur, Gwalior, Nagpur, and other Central Indian cities. From 2003 to 2006, we were the first to deliver the BSNL Telephone Directory on CD ROM including yellow pages for Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, and Chandigarh BSNL. Obtaining any BSNL telephone number on CD in any city was a unique concept at the time.We have also published many industrial and sector specific directory publications.
The databases which we collected while publishing the directories in every city became our asset and motivated us to start the exhibitions.Yellow pages print usage gradually started declining with both advertisers and shoppers as majority of people started turning to Internet search engines and online directories. 2014 onward, we stopped publishing directory and Yellow pages. However, our online directory is available on bharatinfoline.com.
ES. You have organized specialty business shows for the past decade, and your company has created an exhibition brand well known across the country, which has a solid visitor database. How do you explain this success?
Rajkumar Agrawal. Our exhibitions are a window to new world of growth and expansions in every city where we operate. Generating employment, turning the whole city to talk business and change in thought process. This success journey was not at all easy as it took us more than 20 years of dedication and hard work. Few years back when we were publishing yellow pages we had a huge database through which we started connecting with people in different cities for exhibitions. Our database of exhibitors and visitors is a very big asset to us. This is how we stepped into Tier 2 cities of India and still working hard. We are able to draw the attention of investors to invest in these places as well as creating investment opportunity for many units.
We started our first edition of National Expo (Steel & Power) in Raipur in year 2009 and successfully organised 11 editions till date, organised every year. Raipur is a steel city and we are catalysts in industrial automation in these industries. We also worked hard to improve the environment in these cities. Then, we organised Industrial & Engineering Expo (Indexpo) in Indore, Nagpur, Jamshedpur, Hyderbad, Nashik, Aurangabad, Jaipur, Kolkata. Already organised 50+ exhibitions in these cities. These industrial exhibitions have provided a great push in industrial automation, employment generation, exposure to latest technology and most important energised the industry and people. These exhibitions have also developed MSME sector in these cities by providing a market.
ES. Could you please give us some information about your Expo Journey? Who all are your associates? What are the major events that you will be organising in the near future?
Rajkumar Agrawal. The journey from 2009 to 2022 was a mixture of challenges, hard work, dedication and patience. According to a popular saying, planning an event isn’t so easy, but a successful event planner always prepares for the unexpected. Initially, people will resist any change but over a time they accept you. We undertake a thorough research before entering into any city to understand the requirements of industry, segment and potential. Most important taking the support of trade associations, collecting industry data and compilation. We have been associated with many trade associations like Urla Industries Association, MIA Industries Association, FIEO, COSIA, ASSOCHAM, AIAI, AIMP, PAS, AIIFA and many other associations. Our exhibitions are also approved by MSME Ministry and approved by NSIC. These exhibitions are being held under the most difficult conditions possible on the ground. There are no fixed locations. As a result, organising ground exhibition is extremely difficult. There are so many administrative permissions that are required.Our vision for future is to organise world class exhibitions in India. Bringing together all B class cities on a common platform.
Business networking, investment opportunities, exposure to latest technologies and employment generation for youth. To connect with 50+ cities of the country in next 5 years for their business requirement particularly for industries. 10,000 + exhibitors and 50,00,000 + visitors under our umbrella.
ES. What are some of the challenges and advantages for organising a trade show in B cities? How have you adapted to the new reality of the meetings industry, which is much more digital and hybrid?
Rajkumar Agrawal. Primarily, we are into industrial exhibitions in these Tier- 2 cities. But there is a great opportunity in other sectors also like Agro Exhibitions, Food Processing Machineries, Printing and Packaging, Logistics, Garments, Consumers Electronics, Electricals, Interior & Exteriors, Building Materials, Fashion,Toys, Automobiles, and more than 100 sectors.
Now, there are good facilities available like aluminium hangers, octonorm booths , carpets, lights, electricity in these locations. But there are challenges also like uncertainty, permission hurdles, lack of permanent venues and also stall booth fabricators. Most important ground facilities like toilets/ waste disposal/ branding agencies impose a great issue in these ground venues.
- There is also a very big market for events like marriages in these cities.
- Being on IEIA Board, it provides a great opportunity for networking with Big Brands, Its an recognition of doing a job in Tier-2 cities for exhibitions.
We can be facilitator or coordinator for exhibition organisers to organise more exhibitions in these cities by providing them guidance. These Tier-2 Cities have tremendous potential for business and exhibitions.
