The 9th edition of Excon, India?s premier and South Asia?s largest construction equipment and construction technology trade fair, which will take place in Bengaluru during December 12-16, 2017, is expected to attract more than 1,000 exhibitors, including around 300 companies from abroad. The event is expected to attract over 40,000 business visitors. Organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the mega business event will feature a five-day international exhibition to be held at 2,50,000 sq m of gross exhibition display area.

In a speech screened at the launch meet held in New Delhi, Suresh Prabhu, Minister of Railways, Government of India, said that Excon has turned out to be an important event for the infrastructure development in India as it attracts the best technologies, the best companies, and the best ideas to the country from across the world.
He pointed out that the Railways is committed to investing Rs 8,50,000 crore in a five year span in infrastructure development projects like network decongestion, network expansion, national projects, safety, information technology and research, rolling stock, passenger amenities, high speed rail and elevated corridor, station redevelopment and logistic parks.

In his special address, Anirudh Jain, Additional Member (Works), Railway Board, Ministry of Railways, said that Indian Railways has prioritised projects so that the projects that are more beneficial and those are nearing completion can be completed expeditiously. He said that the execution of one of the biggest infrastructure projects in the country, the Eastern and Western Dedicated Freight Corridors, has been fast-tracked. It will be commissioned in phases by 2019. 

Speaking at the launch function, Vipin Sondhi, Chairman, CII Trade Fair Council and Chairman, Excon 2017, said that Excon 2017 is set to put India?s construction equipment industry on the global map, which is expected to grow from $ 3 billion in 2016 to $ 5 billion by 2020 in value terms.

In line with the growth of the industry, Excon has become one of the largest global events in the sector. He pointed out that the first edition of Excon, held in 2000, had a modest beginning with just about 80 exhibitors. However, the forthcoming event will have over 1,000 exhibitors, including over 300 from abroad. The exhibition will also have exclusive country pavilions for Germany, Italy, China, Finland, Sweden, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Turkey, UK and USA. The gross display area of the event would go from less than 50,000 sq m in 2000 to 2,50,000 sq m in 2017.

In his opening remarks, Virendra Gupta, Deputy Director General, CII said that India has made a significant progress in attracting private investments in the infrastructure sector. Over a decade (2002-2012), private sector has invested approximately $ 250 billion in various infrastructure projects. He pointed out that CII?s Infrastructure Division engages the Central and state governments; the industry and other stakeholders to work towards making Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) as the cornerstone for building the state-of-the-art infrastructure in India.
Anand Sundaresan, President, ICEMA, proposed vote of thanks.