February 7, 2013: Raj Manek, MD, Messe Frankfurt Trade Fairs India

With Messe Frankfurt (Automechanika) teaming up with ACMA for the first show of its type here, what are the expectations as organisers?
Using their respective strengths, Messe Frankfurt’s international exhibitor and visitor recruitment prowess and ACMA’s reach in the Indian automotive aftermarket, both companies have leveraged each other’ perfectly. We expect ACMA Automechanika New Delhi to become an international aftermarket tradefair.

The exhibitor list has a fairly large Chinese contingent but a lot fewer companies from Europe. Will this be essentially an Asia-focused fair?
The China pavilion maybe the largest, however we do have a fair amount of representation that pans the globe.

What are the challenges of organising a focused fair like this? Will there be likely editions in other cities going forward and on a smaller scale?
It is too early to comment on this.

How will smaller Indian parts makers benefit from a fair like this?
An event like ACMA Automechanika New Delhi will serve to bridge the gap between manufacturersand buyers. Local and small parts manufacturers could potentially meet international buyers or touchmarkets they otherwise would not.

Why did the organisers specifically look at the counterfeit parts section? Does this reflect a major concern here in India?
Messe Frankfurt has always supported the protection of intellectual property rights. We are renownedas the first trade fair organiser to have started an anti-piracy campaign in 2006, ‘Messe Frankfurt AgainstCopying’. As regards the second question, the answer is yes.