Considering the upward trajectory of India’s electronics manufacturing industry, Bhupinder Singh, CEO, Messe Muenchen India, explains how this industry can leverage global opportunities by developing a thriving domestic supply chain through trade fairs of international standards such as electronica India and productronica India 2022.
TimesTech: Electronics has emerged as one of the sunrise sectors in the Indian manufacturing landscape today. How can trade fairs help to sustain and grow this momentum?
Bhupinder: Electronics manufacturing in India has grown considerably over the last few years. This can be seen in increased mobile phone exports by nearly 75% from last fiscal. Also, domestic manufacturing has almost doubled to Rs. 5.5 lakh crore in 2021 from Rs. 2.43 lakh crore in 2015-16. There is an insatiable appetite for next-generation, cost-effective electronic products, and this will increase exponentially in the next few years with rising income levels and higher internet penetration. The Government of India (GOI) has outlined a $300 billion vision for this industry by 2026, but a thriving supply chain is the urgent need of the hour. To leverage the multiplier effect of investments in this sector and the vast ocean of global opportunities, a robust supply chain must be created within the country. This will not only increase employment and boost the Indian economy but will make the domestic industry globally competitive in the long term. This is where trade fairs like electronica India and productronica India play a crucial role. By bringing together leading domestic and global electronics companies under one roof, our trade fairs help forge partnerships and unlock business opportunities among the various stakeholders in the global electronics supply chain.
TimesTech: How will electronica India and productronica India 2022 empower the industry to build and scale its domestic value chain?
Bhupinder: When we say that our trade fairs enable meaningful handshakes and unlock business opportunities, we refer to both immediate value creation through buyer-seller deals as well as long-term partnerships between global suppliers and local vendors, systems designers, component manufacturers, etc. Our deep understanding and connection with the electronics ecosystem in India, combined with the international character of the electronica and productronica brands (in Munich and China) ensures that every year our trade fairs in India are more closely aligned with the Indian industry’s interests. When you participate in our shows either as a buyer or an exhibitor, you are not only building your own business but weaving your interests into the larger industry landscape of the country amidst the presence of thought leaders and decision makers at our exhibitions and conferences.
Hence, our shows are supported by leading government ministries including the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Ministry of Home Affairs, and Ministry of External Affairs, as well as leading industry associations such as the Electronic Industries Association of India (ELCINA), India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA), India Electronics & Semiconductor Association (IESA), and Indian PCB Circuit Association (IPCA). These partnerships help us address the complete electronics value chain.
TimesTech: Semiconductor manufacturing has come into focus as an area where India can emerge as a leader. How can electronica India and productronica India 2022 support this mission?
Bhupinder: In December 2021, GOI announced a $10 billion scheme to promote this ecosystem, and Indian companies have sufficiently established their strengths in fabless semiconductor design. Now is the time to leverage these strengths, build synergies, and scale semiconductor manufacturing (wafer fab) and outsourced semiconductor assembly and testing (OSAT) in the country. This requires effective knowledge-sharing, engagement, and alignment of interests amongst various players, be it wafer fabs, OSAT companies, equipment suppliers, raw materials, specialty gases providers, water treatment companies, etc. With this goal in mind, we are launching the India Semiconductor Conclave at electronica India and productronica India 2022. The industry and government can look forward to this as a specialized platform for knowledge and expertise sharing, effective interfacing between buyers and suppliers across the value chain, and policy-level discussions to establish India as a global destination for semiconductors – both design and manufacturing. This year the India Semiconductor Conclave will include conferences on India’s semiconductor ecosystem and display manufacturing, as well as a special pavilion by MeitY on policy interventions for these segments. This platform will increase in scale over the years to come.
TimesTech: The world’s ESDM fraternity is coming to electronica India and productronica India 2022 at Greater Noida this September. What can they expect to discover about India’s manufacturing ecosystem on this platform?
Bhupinder: We expect a great turnout for our trade fairs this year. We have witnessed increased participation from segments such as semiconductors, displays, electronic designs, PCBs, embedded systems, and many more. Thus, buyers will witness a wider range of global technologies and innovations first-hand. As a visitor, you can expect to meet small, medium, and large global players at this expo for successful collaborations. Our shows are curated to give maximum returns on objectives for both visitors and exhibitors through well-planned exhibition spaces, curated conferences, and focussed buyer-seller forums. We optimize these platforms through real-time data analytics so that each participant has a meaningful experience at our shows. Combined with our co-located shows like IPCA Expo, MatDispens India, and Smart Cards India, we are confident that electronica India and productronica India 2022 will be the most important destination for the industry this year.
TimesTech: electronica India and productronica India 2022 are coming to Greater Noida this year after a successful show in Bengaluru last year. Why Noida and what are your expectations from this edition?
Bhupinder: With a series of State Government incentives from Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and Haryana in addition to Central Government incentives through PLIs, the ESDM landscape in North India is expanding rapidly. Hence, we have received an overwhelming response from both exhibitors and buyer groups who are seeking competitive, higher-value deals from this region. Compared to the 2021 edition of our shows, we have seen increased participation from Indian companies. NCR has a vast range of manufacturing units for mobile phones and accessories, automotive systems, components and batteries, electronic components, LED & lighting, two and four-wheeler vehicles, and power supplies. Thus, I expect the 2022 edition to be a great platform to uncover market potential, make the right sourcing decisions and unlock business opportunities for distribution, JVs, ToTs, etc. Hope you will not miss all the action at electronica India and productronica India, to be held on 21-23 September 2022, at the India Expo Mart, Greater Noida.
