PALME BENEFITS FROM INDIA’S SOARING RETAIL GROWTH
2007 expo will be a truly national show
 
In the 12 months since the inaugural PALA India exhibition, what was then an emerging market has matured beyond all recognition.

The rebranding of the show to PALME India — bringing it inline with IIR Exhibitions’ Middle and Far East Events portfolio — and improved travel networks, have given exhibition manager James Raffoul great cause for optimism.

To enumerate this growth with a greater percentage of India’s 1.1 billion population moving into the middle class, the country today boasts a market retail size of $286 billion, with retail trade booming due to increasing disposable incomes. This is reflected in the fact that while there were only 25 shopping malls in 2003, this year there are no fewer than 375 spread throughout the country.

“With this massive growth in the Indian infrastructure, which is developing commercial, retail, residential, and tourist complexes on a par with anything in the world, demand for entertainment and AV installation products and services is growing at an alarming rate,” observes Raffoul. “This year we have been delighted by the positive feedback we have received from Delhi, in the north of the country and Bangalore in the south, proving that in just one year this has become a truly national show.”

Situated just 15 minutes drive from both the International and Domestic airports, the Bombay Exhibition Centre (NSE Complex) is one of the largest and most modern permanent exhibition venues in India's business capital. It is within easy reach of over 20 hotels, including several five star properties.

It is estimated that some 3,000 visitors will attend PALME India, where around 100 exhibitors (representing international manufacturers and local distributors) will present the latest in pro audio, lighting, audio visual and systems integration solutions for both the commercial and residential markets.

Already the interest created in the AV Integration sector has forced James Raffoul to extend the space allocation in the Hall “effectively doubling its size.”

The exhibition manager is equally upbeat about the quality and range of special features and collateral events — which will feature everything from spectacular laser displays, line array loudspeaker shoot-outs, DJ and VJ workshops and the future of the “smart” environment.

“As a result, we have been able to enlist the support of some prestigious agencies such as the School of Audio Engineering (SAE) and AES (Audio Engineering Society) as well as Event Management Development Institute (EMDI),” he says.

Companies such as Philips, AMX and ESCO Audio Visuals (India’s biggest system integrators) will line up alongside Modern Stage Service, the country’s premier supplier of major event services. The company will show the infrastructure required to stage large-scale events — including Bollywood-style productions and religious festivals.

“That we have been able to attract the leaders in their respective fields says much about the pedigree of this show, and its importance to the local market.”
 
PALME India (formerly PALA India) will take place from 4-6 October 2007 at the Bombay Exhibition Centre (NSE Complex) Mumbai, India.  For further information visit www.palme-india.com or email palmeindia@iirme.com

Further information from:

Jerry Gilbert
JGP Public Relations
Tel: +44 (0)1707 258525