MUMBAI, Apr 26: IEIA, the umbrella body representing Rs 1,200 crore exhibitions market, has sought industry status easier set of regulations and lower local taxes.
The association, which is launching two-day international seminar here today, has also appealed for more coordination among various industry chambers and government departments to help faster market growth, which will eventually boost India’s forex earnings.
“The biggest hurdle facing this segment, which is growing at 10 per cent annually, is that it is unorganised, apart from having poor infrastructure. Another issue is the high local taxes like octroi and multiple permissions an organiser has to obtain,” Indian Exhibition Industry Association (IEIA) President Sanjeev Khaira told here.
Pointing out that in Mumbai for instance, an exhibitor has to obtain as many as 23 approvals, Khaira, who is also the MD of one of the largest trade magazines publisher UBM of England, said the least government can do is to accord industry status to this sector, which can help it get foreign funds apart from attracting talent.
Other handicaps of the sector, said Khaira, include fragmentation due to fly-by-night organisers, monopolistic policies of venues and increasing costs, including venue rents, among others.
Khaira said the huge potential in sectors like pharma, security, renewable energy, nuclear energy and food processing, among others, can better be tapped if proper sectoral exhibitions are held in the country.
The seminar, to be opened by Maharashtra Housing Minister Sachin Ahir, will be attended by state’s Industries Secretary Kshatrapati Shivaji apart from trade representatives, policymakers, exhibition organisers from both within and outside the country.
Khaira said the country lacks exhibition infrastructure with 15 venues accounting for just 2,57,000 sq meter, of which 65 per cent is in Mumbai and Delhi. (PTI)
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