ES. What is your take on the current state of Indian Exhibition industry given the recent inauguration of Bharat Mandapam & the upcoming one of IICC in October?
Sonia Prashar. The current state of the Indian exhibition industry is promising, with steady growth and increasing interest from domestic and international participants. The recent inauguration of Bharat Mandapam, a state-of-the-art exhibition centre in India, is undoubtedly a step in the right direction. Such initiatives demonstrate the commitment of the Indian government and industry players to upgrade the exhibition infrastructure and provide world-class facilities for hosting events of various scales.
Additionally, the upcoming inauguration of the India International Convention and Exhibition Centre (IICC) in October holds great promise for the Indian exhibition industry. The IICC is expected to be one of Asia’s largest exhibition and convention centres, and it is likely to attract major international events, conferences, and exhibitions. This will not only boost India’s image as a global exhibition destination but also open up new opportunities for businesses and industries to showcase their potential on a larger stage. Existing venues like INDIA EXPO MART also continue to expand and develop their offerings, the construction of Jewar Airport will play a pivotal role in enhancing the connectivity of the venue. As the President of the Exhibition Industry Association, I believe that these initiatives, along with continued efforts to improve the overall exhibition ecosystem, will play a crucial role in propelling India to the forefront of the global exhibition industry. Constant upgradation and maintenance of these venues will be essential for the long run.
IEIA, over the last 15+ years has truly emerged as the Exhibition Industry’s ambassador in all aspects. The pandemic years were challenging for the stakeholders, but IEIA used this period effectively to rally the industry together and bring forth pertinent and relevant issues. Be it skilling, ethics and compliance, powering women in the industry or nurturing young talent – IEIA has taken a lead in all areas to ensure that the industry progresses in alignment with the growth of the country
ES. Post Covid-19, amidst all the challenges and uncertainty, the Indian Exhibition Industry managed to remain buoyant and attracted both exhibitors and visitors in huge numbers. Would you like to highlight the dominant factors that propelled this favourable atmosphere in India?
Sonia Prashar. Some of the factors which contributed to the immediate recovery and growth of the industry were: Pent-up Demand: After prolonged lockdowns and restrictions, there was a pent-up demand for physical networking and business interactions. Focus on Local Markets: With international travel restrictions in place, there was a heightened focus on local and regional markets. Indian exhibitors and visitors turned to domestic events to explore opportunities and strengthen their presence within the country. Industry Collaboration: The exhibition industry in India demonstrated exceptional collaboration and resilience during the challenging times. Associations, organizers, venues, and service providers worked together to find innovative solutions and support each other through the recovery phase. Additionally, government support focused on health and safety measures not only helped the industry recover but also laid the foundation for a more resilient and adaptive exhibition ecosystem in the future.
ES. India’s conference and exhibition industry got a major boost from our G20 Presidency this year. How do you see this Presidency as a key opportunity for India to showcase its leadership and to make efforts to strengthen multilateral cooperation?
Sonia Prashar. The G20 Presidency presents a remarkable opportunity for India to showcase its leadership on the global stage and make significant efforts to strengthen multilateral cooperation, particularly in the context of
the conference and exhibition industry. Exhibitions and conferences provide avenues for cultural exchange and soft power projection. India’s diverse culture, traditions, and innovations can be highlighted through exhibitions, contributing to a deeper understanding and appreciation of the country among the international community.
The industry can also play a crucial role in promoting trade and investment during India’s G20 Presidency. By hosting trade exhibitions and investment summits, India can attract foreign investors, businesses, and entrepreneurs, stimulating economic growth. By leveraging this platform, India can project its capabilities, foster diplomatic relationships, address global challenges, promote trade and investment, and contribute to shaping a more interconnected and collaborative world.
ES. India is also attracting a lot of international eyeballs now. Once considered as the promising destination, India is finally being viewed as ‘the hot destination. What would you like to highlight about the domestic demand situation here given the aggressive growth of many industry sectors?
Sonia Prashar. India’s growth across a wide array of sectors, including technology, healthcare, renewable energy, manufacturing, infrastructure, is driving demand for exhibitions, for the industries to showcase innovations, products, and services. The burgeoning startup ecosystem in India has led to an influx of innovative startups and entrepreneurs across sectors. These startups often look to exhibitions to connect with investors, collaborators, and potential customers. Furthermore, as one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies, India offers lucrative investment opportunities. Exhibitions serve as meeting points for investors and businesses seeking expansion, further driving demand for events.
ES. You took over the mantle at IEIA in the most tough times. Can you share your experience and achievements at the helm of affairs at IEIA? Please also describe some critical issues which you have addressed in your tenure
Sonia Prashar. IEIA, over the last 15+ years has truly emerged as the Exhibition Industry’s ambassador in all aspects. The pandemic years were challenging for the stakeholders, but IEIA used this period effectively to rally the industry together and bring forth pertinent and relevant issues. Be it Skilling, Ethics and Compliance, Powering Women in the Industry or nurturing young talent – IEIA has taken a lead in all areas to ensure that the industry progresses in alignment with the growth of the country.
Various initiatives like IEIA SOCIAL, IEIA SKILLFORCE, IEIA WOMEN LEADERSHIP FORUM have been instrumental in creating forums which have encouraged the exchange of ideas and implementable measures. It was my honour to work with the secretariat and my fellow EC members to support the industry and work towards making our Industry resilient and effective.
ES. IEIA has come a long way under your leadership too, where do you see IEIA today and what are your plans to leverage and execute the association’s goals and vision in this industry in the coming times?
Sonia Prashar. IEIA will continue to grow and function as an effective intermediary between the various stakeholders and policy makers. As an Industry our immediate and most important agenda is to get the due recognition we deserve in terms of our contribution to the country’s growth and GDP. To achieve this, we are constantly engaging with policy makers. Secondly IEIA must set standards and regulations to make our industry globally compliant. For this we all need to work together.
By promoting diversity and inclusivity when it comes to hiring talent, IEIA can work with member companies to create opportunities to make this possible. Sustainability is another key area, where IEIA should take the lead and support member companies to understand how we as an Industry need to manage our ecological footprint.
ES. How do you feel can we attract the youth to join our industry and support its future growth?
Sonia Prashar. IEIA has always believed in supporting and encouraging young talent to create the leaders of tomorrow. Our program FANTASTIC 40 under 40 is aimed at mentoring exhibition professionals who will take industry to new heights. We have to position our Industry as an attractive and stable place to work at, with opportunities for growth, exposure and the possibility to learn about diverse industries. This can be achieved by engaging with universities, informing students about what options can they explore, using the platform of IEIA to share structured information around this topic.
Furthermore, as an Industry we must also explore the possibility of creating courses which can be beneficial for young talent to enter this Industry.
ES. What message would you like to give to the industry at this time?
Sonia Prashar. I would encourage the industry to actively work towards creating exhibitions which set global benchmarks, to invest in talent at their organisations, to nurture the leaders of tomorrow, to create a sustainability roadmap for their events so that we continue to be a responsible industry. Most importantly, while taking care of our respective business units, it is crucial that we also do our bit for the industry by way of contributing – be it our time, our insights, our expertise or our experience.
