The Coimbatore District Small Industries Association (Codissia) is upbeat over the Industrial Trade fair (INTEC 2013) as it expects the fair to generate business worth Rs 750 crore to Rs 800 crore.
The fair is also likely to pave way for international alliances between overseas participants and local manufacturers and for foreign car manufacturers to identify local component suppliers, D.Gandhikumar, Chairman, INTEC 2013, has said.
Speaking at a news conference on Monday ahead of the holding of the INTEC 2013 from June 6 to 10 at the Codissia Trade Fair Complex here, he said the last edition of INTEC had generated business volume of about Rs 560 crore. He expected the turnover to go up to Rs 750 crore to Rs 800 crore in the INTEC 2013, which is the 14th edition since the first INTEC in 1988.
He said though there was economic slowdown globally, participants from 16 foreign countries are displaying their products in the INTEC show. He cited the names of Yamazaki Mazak, one of the global leaders in machine tool manufacture and engineering conglomerate Hyundai, which are participating in the show for the first time. In fact Hyundai has taken up two large stalls in different locations to ensure better visibility.
Gandhikumar said Isuzu Motors of Japan, which is establishing an automobile factory in A.P., is also participating in the exhibition as it is keen to develop a vendor base for its auto components in Coimbatore. He said nearly the entire exhibition space has been booked with 474 participants putting up 508 stalls over a 9700 sq.metre area.
The INTEC Chairman said there is a constant churn in the participants’ list because those launching new products want to display their wares in the show. Another major draw for the participants was that the Coimbatore show attracted decision makers which resulted in spot orders in nearly 50 per cent of the cases.
Answering a question as to whether any overseas participants had expressed desire to establish JVs with local partners, he said the picture would become clear only after the INTEC was over. In the past also, the INTEC had led to tie-ups and he expected the trend to continue this year too.
Pointing out that the Coimbatore based Craftsman Automation has a tie up with Mitsubishi Corporation of Japan, he said this has created interest in Izusu in forming a vendor base in Coimbatore for sourcing critical components.
Gandhikumar said while the small industries in Tamil Nadu may not be able to replicate the scorching pace of growth of 25-30 per cent of the past, 'no industry in Tamil Nadu has shown any negative growth so far', because of problems like power cut. Quoting Union Government sources, he said 'no industry made an NPA from Tamil Nadu'.
He said the industry here sought loan restructuring so as to avoid becoming NPAs and commented 'we don’t want to kill our entrepreneurs'.
R. Ramachandran, President, Codissia, said the INTEC 2013 would be inaugurated by P.Mohan, Minister for Rural Industries, Tamil Nadu.