More than 40 Indian companies expressed the desire to attend INNOPROM-2017

India participated at INNOPROM-2016 as Partner Country in three major formats. It presented its national exhibition and held business and cultural events at INNOPROM.

India's national exhibition became one of the most extensivenational displays recently seen in Russia. The Indian exhibition spread over 3,700 square meters presenting 115 industrial companies, including those widely known in Russia (Sun Group, Heavy Engineering Corp Ltd, Grover International, and SRB Group) and the ones new to Russian consumers and the international market. Partner Country booths demonstrated major products exported globally, such as IT, processing technologies and equipment, pharmaceuticals, chemical products, energy, machine building, machine building components, and industrial design. The national exhibition of the Republic of India attractedover 48,000 visitors during four INNOPROM days, including delegations from 95 countries, such as Japan, Germany, Czech Republic, RSA, Belgium, Finland, and other INNOPROM participants. India's exhibition was visited by Dmitry Medvedev, Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, Denis Manturov, Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, and other distinguished guests.

The Indian delegation at INNOPROM exceeded 400 official and business representatives. Chief Ministers of three major Indian states (Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan) represented their country for the first time in the history of Russian and Indian relations. Partner Country delegation was led by Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of State for Ministry of Commerce and Industry of India.

In 2016, INNOPROM business program included 150 events, one third of them organized jointly with the Partner Country. The key event was the Russia-India Business Forum on Russia-India: New Industrialization and Industrial Cooperation. Denis Manturov, Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, emphasized the importance of the forum as an international communication platform for the two countries. In his welcomeaddress, he said, "Our countries have always been good friends, and I am confident that this venue will become a platform for new opportunities on deeper cooperation."

Heads of Indian regions presented Investment Opportunities of Indian States to further expand on the subject of boosting industrial, commercial, and economic ties between Russia and India.Eventparticipants discussed the opportunities for attracting direct investmentsinto India's production sector and learned about the Make in India national initiative aimed at reforming the country's economy and simplifying local facility placement procedures.

One of the outcomes of India's participation in INNOPROM was the signing of mutually beneficial cooperation agreements between Russian regions and Indian states, including the bilateral Russian-Indian cooperation agreement between the Indian Business Alliance and Kaliningrad Region Development Corporation and the cooperation agreement between Sverdlovsk Region and Maharashtra state. "It is an important region that includes the major business center of Mumbai and accounts for 40% of India's total GDP," commented Evgeny Kuivashev, Governor of Sverdlovsk Region.

INNOPROM-2016 Official Opening Ceremony at Cosmos Concert Hall was attended by 2,000 participants and guests. Before the launch of the Partner Country national block, all attendees were welcomed by Nirmala Sitharaman, Head of the official delegation of the Republic of India, who said, "I am confident that INNOPROM, a major international trade fair, will open opportunities for our engineering companies to present their capabilities, launch necessary communications, and network with Russian manufacturers and other global players." INNOPROM also presented a concert of Indian music, With Love from Bollywood dance routine, and an official reception hosted by the Partner Country. At the reception, guests explored national Indian cuisine and enjoyed the performance of Ushi Utup, a well known Indian jazz singer, who performed international and Indian hits as a pleasant wrap up of the eventful day.

The large-scale participation of the Republic of India in INNOPROM-2016 as its Partner Country helped new small and medium Indian businesses to find their way to the Russian market and for the Indian companies working in Russia to strengthen their positions. More than 40 Indian companies expressed the desire to attend INNOPROM-2017.