Using Trade Fairs to enter the Indian Market
Trade fairs in India provide foreign companies with an excellent opportunity to enter the Indian market. They can help companies make new contacts, explore market opportunities and discuss industry-specific innovations. Trade fairs in India open doors for companies – which is why choosing the right trade fair can be decisive.
The Indian trade fair market
The Indian trade fair market plays a central role in the country’s economic development and has undergone constant change in recent years. The market’s value was estimated at USD 5.23 billion in 2024, and the industry’s growth continues to offer promising prospects for the future.
Before the coronavirus pandemic, the trade fair industry was experiencing steady annual growth of around eight per cent. The trade fair industry provided a livelihood to more than 1.5 million people directly, and it generated business revenue of over EUR 31 billion, as well as significant government revenue.
Market forecasts indicate that the Indian trade fair market will continue to grow in the coming years; they project an annual growth rate of 8.31 per cent from 2024 to 2029 and a market volume of USD 7.8 billion for 2029.
Foreign trade fair schemes
The German state of North Rhine-Westphalia supports SMEs at trade fairs via schemes such as ‘Messe meets Mittelstand’, as the cost of a trade fair booth often exceeds companies’ budgets. That’s why, as a tool for promoting foreign trade, ‘Messe meets Mittelstand’ is designed to be particularly flexible: small and medium-sized companies from North Rhine-Westphalia can exhibit at a foreign trade fair of their own choosing, with financial support from the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. You can find further information about participating in trade fairs abroad here (German only).
Messe Düsseldorf: a strong player in the Indian trade fair market
There's no getting closer than this: trade fairs on the subcontinent simplify market entry and help strengthen your position in the Indian market. And their importance continues to grow. According to market research company jwc, rented exhibition space will increase by ten percent annually in the coming years – to 4.6 million square meters in 2030. That's 2 million square meters more than in 2024.
Messe Düsseldorf will contribute to this. It has been present on the subcontinent since 1982 and operates one of its seven international subsidiaries here, with locations in New Delhi and Mumbai. Of its 82 trade fairs around the globe, 16 take place in India – more than in any other foreign market. The mix of global industry get-togethers in Düsseldorf and strong regional flagship fairs in India offers companies the greatest benefit for their German-Indian business relations.