The Hannover industrial trade fair in India is a very good opportunity for international companies to display high-quality products to potential Indian customers. Verband Deutscher Maschinen- und Anlagenbau (VDMA), a german engineering federation collaborates with and supports the organisers, Deutsche Messe AG/Hannover Fairs India. A quartet of industrial trade fairs— CeMAT India, MDA India, Energy India and Industrial Automation India (IA India)—took place in Mumbai for the first time from December 10-13,2009. The fairs focused on innovative materials handling technology, efficient power transmission and control systems, plus the latest energy and automation technologies. The fairs saw 350 exhibitors from 19 countries participating. There were participants from Germany, Italy, Spain, China and Taiwan. This high quota of foreign participants underlines the international importance of these trade fairs.



The trade between India and Germany recorded 11 per cent growth in 2008 to reach Rs 898 billion. The demand for German machinery continues unabated, with imports amounting to nearly Rs 215 billion, nearly 39 per cent of total imports from Germany, with a growth of 16 per cent. In the machinery segment, the major demand was for power transmission engineering (14 per cent), machine tools (9 per cent), printing and paper technology (8 per cent), textile machinery (7 per cent) and construction equipment and building materials machinery (6 per cent).

A total of 81 German companies participated in the MDA India, CeMat India, Energy India and IA India. This amply demonstrates the interest of German companies in the Indian market and the immense business potential of bilateral trade ties. Mumbai is India's most important economic hub. The industries based here—which include mechanical engineering, metal working, chemicals, fertilisers and textiles— provide an ideal backdrop to the themes of the four shows: innovative materials handling technology, efficient power transmission systems, modern energy, and automation technologies.