Editorials
by Rajen Kumar
No Escaping Social Media
Running a magazine concentrating on issues of small and medium enterprises and managing with limited resources is a like living life on the edge. In this rush of meeting deadlines,...
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Special Reports
Apr 2012EMRC, Brussels Associates with SME WORLD as its New Media Partner
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Interviews
M. Gandhi - Managing Director, UBM India Pvt. Ltd. and UBM Asia (Thailand) Ltd
Dec 2009
Page 1 of 2
M. Gandhi is an 'exhibition man' of the East. His singular contribution towards the development of trade exhibition industry makes Gandhi a man taller than his height. He is going places with his expertise exposing the region's trade and industry to the inquisitive business world.
“I am a Malaysian but my roots are in India,” Gandhi says with visible pride. India's cultural diversity has impressed Gandhi in a big way. “This is what makes India a great and a successful economy.”
According to Gandhi, Indian SMEs sector is a formidable economic force but lack marketing initiatives. “Here the role of trade exhibitions comes. Trade events provide a viable platform and this is what we do.”
Gandhi is the Managing Director, UBM India Pvt. Ltd. and UBM Asia (Thailand) Ltd., pioneers in the trade exhibition business in the region. He has conceptualized and launched trade exhibitions in South and South East Asia for well over two decades. He is also responsible for developing the trade exhibitions related to Pharmaceuticals, Food, IT & Telecomunications, Environment, Manufacturing, Defence & Security, Gem & Jewellery, Fashion, Luxury and Automotive etc.
Under his stewardship, various trade exhibitions have been organized in Australia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, South Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand and Singapore. His contribution towards the pharma industry in the Asian regions is noteworthy.
“We inform markets and bring the world's buyers and sellers together at events, online and in print providing them with the information they need to do business,” says Gandhi and adds, “we focus on serving professional commercial communities from doctors to game developers, from journalists to jewellery traders, from farmers to pharmacists around the world.”
With an enviable back-up of 6,500 staff in more than 30 countries including India, UBM works though specialist teams.
M. Gandhi in conversation with SME WORLD.
SMEs sector in India is growing at a pace. The sector is beset with a variety of problems the chief being marketing; what are your plans of targeting the MSMEs sector?
SME's are the backbone of any developing economy. India's fast growing manufacturing sector's sustainability depends on the ability to link the assemblers, MSME's and the SME's seamlessly to ensure efficiency. We wish to play an active role in providing the right platform at the right time through professionally organised trade exhibitions.
India has a fund of talent and capabilities with an unlimited potential for exports. Our micro enterprises or entrepreneurs form a mammoth population through the length and breadth of the rural India. There are products like ethnic garments, handicrafts, traditional pottery which may have a big export market. Have you designed any trade fairs which target the micro enterprises in India. Don't you think locational hazards will come in the way in bringing buyers-sellers on a single platform?
Indian unorganised sector produces and contributes towards the Indian economy substantially but in a shy way. It is time that these hidden talents and strength are brought to the rest of the world. By encouraging SME's to showcase their products and services at International trade shows there will be two way learning initiated. While the potential buyer would come in direct contact with the supplier, the SME would also learn from the potential customer if their products are 'tweaked' to open new markets. Meanwhile during a professional trade exhibition, the SME's could learn from other exhibitors about marketing - booth-display, presentation, packaging, marketing materials, etc.
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- Winner of appreciation award for promoting SMEs in India.
- 1st ever Indian magazine to penetrate tier II, III cities & the rural belt.
- Industry Partnerships include CII, FICCI, ASSOCHAM, PHDCC, AIMA, ITPO, SME Network, Federation of Indian Micro Small Enterprises (FISME)
- Official Magazine Partners for several national & international MSME events.
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