Hannover Messe 2015, the world’s largest and oldest engineering trade fair in Germany, along with EEPC India (Engineering Export Promotion Council), has embarked another roadshow in Mumbai with the focal theme as ‘Make In India opportunities at Hannover Messe’ as India will represent as the official Partner Country this year.

During the roadshow, EEPC, under the aegis of the Ministry of Commerce announced a subsidy for the participating members to put up their exhibiting stalls in Hannover Messe 2015 and on the manufacturing goods shipment as well.

India’s role as the partner country at Hannover Messe underscores Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ambitious economic course. Under the slogan of 'Make in India', Modi will promote the modernization of India’s factories and infrastructure and encourage greater foreign investment in India with the objective to increase India’s share of global FDI.

After 2006, this is the second time India has been designated as a partner country at the Hannover fair. During the show, Ministry of Commerce will showcase approx. 250 Indian companies. Along with EEPC, CII is also mandated to organize a high level participation from the country, informed the press release.

“Deutsche Messe is particularly well represented in India and will take advantage of our excellent relations in that nation to support India and help ensure its success as the Partner Country. Having India as a partner country will certainly allow both countries to greatly expand the numbers that we achieved during our previous alliance,” said Michael Sibert, Consul General, German Consulate.

"Partner Country India is coming at exactly the right moment. India will be showcasing itself to the world as a modern, upwardly mobile economic power, while it simultaneously takes advantage of the opportunities offered by Hannover Messe to invest in modern technology to strengthen its domestic economy,” said Mehul Lanvers-Shah, MD, Hannover Milano Fairs India Pvt. Ltd.

“Hannover Messe is an ideal platform for Indian manufacturers to attain an international standing. The statistics for 2013 demonstrates the appeal of the world’s leading trade fair for industrial technology. In a bid to give push to Indian manufacturers, we have decided to offer subsidy upto 50 per cent to participating members to put up their stalls at the fair and also on the manufacturing goods shipment. This will certainly give a huge impetus to local manufacturers at the global fair,” said T. S. Bhasin, Sr. Vice Chairman, EEPC India.

The focus of the fair is to bring together expertise from two different countries and encourage collaborations in order to increase the Indo-German trade relations. The participants at the fair will receive a firsthand view of technological advancements in the field of engineering.

Considering that India’s participation in the fair in 2006 generated total business to the tune of $1.3 billion, striking several major deals including joint ventures between Mann Age and Force Motors, Deutsche Bann and Indian Railways, the fair can also be expected to draw significant attention in related sectors across India.

Last year, Hannover Messe attracted 180,000 visitors in 5 days, out of this 57 per cent of visitor audience were from European Union and 20 per cent from South, East and Central Asia. A total number of 5,000 exhibitors from more than 100 countries showcased their products.