Report; P.Tharyan, Photography: Mohd. Nasir
We have an ACMA Automechanika show and we also have an ACMA show held
during the Auto Exo, is the Indian auto components industry ready for shows of
such stature at such short intervals?
Absolutely, I think you made a very relevant point. If
you look at the Indian auto component industry, it is at US$ 35 billion,
exports are at $10 billion, and is poised to become a $ 100 billion industry by
2020 if everything goes right. Exports are expected to increase to $ 40
billion. Out of this $ 35 billion, around $ 6 billion is primarily from
aftermarket. We are planning to take this aftermarket business to $12 billion.
The aftermarket is been growing at around 15pc.
Now if you look at the ACMA Automechanika, this too has grown from
around 200 exhibitors to around 425 exhibitors. This clearly goes to show, what
an opportunity Automechanika has created with ACMA for the people. This is not
only for spares parts and aftermarket in India where you have your dealers
coming in, but it also gives an opportunity for exports with a lot of
foreigners coming in.
According to me, this show for the aftermarket will grow
tremendously in the coming years. As for
the other show during the Auto Expo, well that also happens once in two years. That
show represents a much bigger show. It represents the entire industry. It also
attracts a lot of OE manufacturers. We tied up with many of the managing
directors and other senior officials of companies. There we showcase a lot of
new technologies. Moreover, the show has all the major trade bodies like CII,
SIAM and ACMA coordinating. I will not be surprised to see more than 800
exhibitors participating in the next Automechanika in New Delhi and a lot more
business being generated.
What’s been the response of the overseas companies in this show?
In this show, we have seen people coming in from Germany,
Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, etc. It also gives an opportunity for the Indian
industries to tie up with them. If you look at from the OE perspective where we
can grab this opportunity from China, we have been asked by global companies to
increase our capacities. With the right quality, they are willing to give us
business. The opportunity from abroad is immense for their aftermarket
requirements. It is only that we have to scale up operations. If things go
well, as our Prime Minister Narendra Modi is saying about “Make in India’ and
ease of doing business in India, I think that in ten years India will be a
country to reckon with.
What about basic infrastructure when it comes to venues for holding
such mammoth shows. Can we see some improvement in them? Do you have a wish
list there?
If you would have seen the
last Auto Expo, the auto components show was held in Pragati Maidan and the
main show was held at a different location and which I think was a world class
location. We have been discussing with the government bodies to enhance the
facilities at the existing venue here in New Delhi and make that into a world
class venue. With the new Prime Minister being there, I am sure he will make
that happen.
This show is for four days and there were some participants clamouring
that the organisers need to make it of shorter duration. What is your take on
that?
Ideally I tend to agree, the
show should be for a slightly longer period. There are people coming from all
over the country and even abroad and the amount of money that is being spent on
the show, having the show for a longer period, gives a lot of flexibility to
the visitors to come in on any one day or two. Ideally the show should run for
five or six days.