The Hindu Business Line : Deutsche Messe may set up subsidiary in India

German international trade fair organiser Deutsche Messe AG has plans to set up a subsidiary in India. The company has partnered with the Indian Machine Tool Manufacturer's Association (IMTMA) to set up a trade fair centre on Tumkur road, near Bangalore.

For now the centre has been wholly funded by IMTMA, while Deutsche Messe has given technical inputs on designing, maintaining and organising international fairs. But it may take up a stake in the project and eventually make it a subsidiary.

"We are open to picking up stake in this project in future. As of now we will market this centre globally and in future conduct Asia-centric trade fairs here," according to Mr Stephan Ph. Kuhne, Member of the Board, Deutsche Messe AG.

Fairs in Chennai

Besides Bangalore, Deutsche Messe is also looking at co-hosting trade fairs in Chennai, given the large presence of automobile and other industries near the city, said Mr Kuhne.

The Bangalore centre is spread over 40,000 sq m and houses seven halls, including four conference centres of over 5,600 sq m. The centre will host two shows next year on industrial automation and logistics.

Deutsche Messe is co-organising a six-day machine tools and metal works trade fair, EMO Hannover starting September 17, 2007.

According to Mr Helmut von Monschaw, Executive Director, German Machine Tool Builder's Association (VDW), co-organiser of the event, the global machine tool market is worth 45 billion and is poised to grow by 12 per cent next year. EMO will use this growth to showcase technology related to new machining processes, integration of diagnostic systems and new methods of design.

In 2005, about 4,000 Indian participants showcased their products at EMO. Mr Monschaw said greater participation was expected this year.

3 German cos plan subsidiaries near Chennai

The Indo-German Chamber of Commerce is in talks with three German companies that are planning to set up subsidiaries near Chennai, according to Mr T.R. Gopalan, Regional Director, Indo-German Chamber of Commerce. He did not name the companies but said each would invest about 30 million to set up manufacturing units. The companies are involved in manufacture of tunnel making machinery, powder coating and textile machinery.