The Hindu Business Line : Messe Munchen plans subsidiary in India

"We plan to tie up with experienced Indian trade fair organisers to partly own our Indian subsidiary," said Mr Manfred Wutzlhofer, Chairman and Chief Operating Officer, Messe Munchen International, at a press conference here on Saturday.

The subsidiary, likely to be set up in Mumbai, will help Messe Munchen host trade fairs in India. By 2011, it wants to host over 12 fairs in the country from the present five. The company now works with national and regional trade associations to jointly host trade fairs in India, he said.

Among the fairs planned are a biotechnology and instrumentation fair in Bangalore this November, and textile machinery and electronics products fairs in New Delhi early next year.

Messe Munchen hopes to introduce new themes for trade fairs in India. Plans include an auto component fair in Chennai and fairs relevant to the construction machinery industry, automation industry and transport and logistics. The company also plans to organise a fair on beverage technology in Mumbai next year, Mr Wutzlhofer said.

A 17-member German delegation, including members of the supervisory board of Messe Munchen International, visited Chennai to survey trade fair grounds including the Chennai Trade Centre.

"Chennai Trade Centre is well run and has good infrastructure to support a fair of international standards. But it is located far from the city and lacks good hotels in its vicinity," said Mr Wutzlhofer.

He said most Indian cities lacked the infrastructure and space to support international trade fairs.

The delegation will visit Bangalore, Mumbai and New Delhi before returning to Germany. Messe Munchen International has four subsidiaries and 62 foreign representative bodies in 82 countries.