We expect that the companies will be able to gather a lot of good quality contacts, to improve their knowledge of the Indian market, find local dealers, collecting the necessary information to see which kind of investments they can do, says Luca Nutarelli, Secretary General, Unacea (Italian Construction Equipment Association). Excerpts from the interview.

Could you brief us on Unacea and its objectives?
Created in 2010, Unacea is the Italian construction equipment association. At present, in terms of production, we represent over 75 per cent of the value of all earthmoving and concrete equipment industry in Italy. Unacea is a member of CECE, the Committee for European Construction Equipment, which includes the national associations of 14 countries, representing about 1,200 companies, with a turnover of 23 billion euro and 130,000 people directly employed. Unacea represents the interests of the Italian construction equipment industry in relation with the public and technical bodies, as well as exhibitions; we try to support the internationalisation of the Italian manufacturers and allow to every company selling in Italy to report in our on line statistical system.

What have been the sales trends in the world markets?
The contribution of emerging countries has definitively changed the composition of the global demand. According to Off-Highway Research, the share of European demand decreased from 20 per cent in 2006 to 12 per cent in 2011, a figure that is expected to remain unchanged even in 2016.

The analysis of emerging countries reveals a steady growth of the Indian market share (from 3 per cent in 2006 to 5 per cent in 2011, to the forecasted 8 per cent in 2016) and a substantial slowdown in the Chinese that, having grown from 18 per cent in 2006 to 42 per cent in 2011, should now reduce its share to 37 per cent by 2016. In Brazil the forecasts of the association Sobratema estimate a 10 per cent growth in the sector in 2013. The drives of this important numbers are the $480 billion investments in infrastructures, planned by the government for the period 2011-2014 amounted to about.

How have Unacea and its member companies responded to regional growth opportunities?
We try to increase the efforts in internationalisation toward the BRIC countries, where the local economies show positive trends. The major instrument we have used for that is the organisation of Italian joint pavilions. This solution allows SME's to show their products in many markets with an acceptable investment of resources.

What is your take on bC India as a business platform for Italian companies?
We expect that the companies will be able to gather a lot of good quality contacts, to improve their knowledge of the Indian market, find local dealers, collecting the necessary information to see which kind of investments they can do.

What is the total number of member Italian companies participating in bC India?
The Italian companies exhibiting at bC India this time are more than 30, with a slight increase from the past edition. Sixteen of those choose to join the Italian pavilion organised by Monacofiere, the Italian representative of Messe Muenchen, and our association. We are using this successful format in several international events as CTT Russia, Bauma Africa and Bauma China, for example.

What has been the total value of exports of construction equipment into India from Italy?
The Italian construction equipment industry export more than 60 per cent of their production abroad. In some cases, even more than 80 per cent. The total value of Italian export towards India should be for 2012 around Euro 33 million, but it must be considered that many Italian companies produce already in India. Therefore you will not see their output as Italian.

Have you taken any initiatives to ensure safety?
Safety is an import key issue for us. Italian companies are used to manufacturing with the highest standards and norms of the European Union. To increase safety is important the quality of the product, the maintenance, the periodical renewal of the fleets, but also professional formation. In Italy we have organised, together with other technical bodies, several courses for the formation of operators of earthmoving and concrete equipment machines.