Over the last few editions, we are pleased that our attendees have been able to meet their objectives and The Big 5 Construct India gained reputation of bringing the right target audiences on the show floor. Ashley Roberts, Event Director, The Big 5 Construct India
What is your assessment of The Big 5 Construct India which will now be into its 4th annual edition?
We had launched The Big 5 Construct India in 2013 and today, I am proud that the event has been able to position itself as a leading B2B trade show for the building and construction community. We have been able to bring key decision makers, suppliers and influencers together and offer market-leading construction technologies from over 15 nations. Our focus on ‘creating construction communities’ is what distinguishes us from our competitors. We bring stakeholders under one roof for business, learning and networking opportunities. This year, we are again expecting exhibitors from Turkey, Italy, UK, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Russia, Spain, Greece, Iran, Korea, Canada, China, Korea, Malaysia, Germany and India among many others. The Big 5 Construct India focuses on imparting education as we include certified technical workshops, seminars and conferences as a part of our program. There is a huge awareness and demand for education in the construction industry. The need for continued professional development in order to reduce skill gap is bigger than ever before. In 2016, we have much more to offer than previous editions. We are organising a series of educational events in conjunction with the exhibition. A two day Big 5 Conference, a half day seminar by Indian Institute of Architects, one day seminar by American Society of Civil Engineers, 20+ CPD certified technical workshops spread over 3 days are some of the educational initiatives we are undertaking this year. Our recent collaborations include workshops by Construction Industry Development Council (CIDC), Project management workshop by PMI India, green building certification systems workshops including LEED v4, USGBC’s EDGE and GRIHA and much more. Our exhibition will continue to showcase the best of construction building materials, products, solutions and technologies. But at the same time we have gone a step further by offering educational opportunities at no cost; at dmg events, we believe such initiatives ensure our attendees can derive good leverage out of the event.
What is the distinction that you draw from other The Big 5 editions abroad and what does India mean as a market to you?
India is a wonderful market, of course, like any emerging market you will see ups and downs. With changing trends, policies and ambitious investments to follow in construction, it is increasingly becoming easier to operate in India, given the potential the market has to offer. We have been able to successfully geo-clone our events globally since the essence of our business remains the same – wherever we go. Our customers expect business, opportunities to learn and engage with peers and these have been the key factors for the success of our shows. As a matter of fact, all The Big 5 events organised globally follow a similar format since it offers ample educational and networking opportunities besides showcasing top notch technologies.
Give us a sense of why and at what point your headquarters in Dubai thought of India as an exhibition destination?
dmg events is very optimistic about the growth the Indian market has to offer. We have been operating in the region since 2013. And in order to further strengthen our presence in India we have started operating from our new office based in Mumbai. We are lucky to have an experienced team and knowledgeable partners who have a firm grasp on the core sectors we focus on. With an efficient team and a huge market we are ready to take on the challenges and opportunities to grow and succeed.
Tell us about the contours of your partnership with FICCI and Ministry of Urban Development?
Our synergy with FICCI has helped us add value to the event thereby making it an enticing proposal for our attendees and participants. Their knowhow and market expertise has helped us in reaching great heights. We are also thankful to the key authorities at the Ministry of Urban Development for their support and making The Big 5 Construct India – a national event for the construction industry. We are also thankful to leading trade bodies and associations including Builders Association of India (BAI), Indian Association of Structural Engineers (IAStructE), Construction Industry Development Council (CIDC), American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Association of Consulting Civil Engineers (ACCE), Consulting Engineers Association of India (CEAI), Project Management Institute (PMI) India, Indian Building Congress, Liases Foras Real Estate Research and Rating among many others for their continued support.
Can you tell us about the progression made in three previous editions of The Big 5 Construct India in terms of delivery of your objectives?
Over the last three editions, we have seen year on year growth in terms of visitors and exhibitors. Last year, we welcomed 7,428 trade professionals in 3 days and about 160 exhibitors from 15 countries showcased the best of construction products, solutions and technologies. We also saw a huge rise in interest to attend our certified workshops, seminars and other networking events. Over the last few editions, we are pleased that our attendees have been able to meet their objectives and The Big 5 Construct India gained reputation of bringing the right target audiences on the show floor.
What are you planning to do in the next edition of The Big 5 Construct India?
With each passing year as the construction industry grows in India. We plan to scale up our operations and display more exhibits and solutions, create more learning and networking opportunities for the stakeholders of the construction industry. We are also keen to explore additional partnership opportunities with trade bodies we are not engaged with currently. This in turn will ensure increased penetration in the Indian market and offer additional footfalls as far as the popularity and reach of the event is concerned.
