EXCON 2019 Plenary Session: Stresses on technology as a key growth driver for sustainable infra development

The plenary session of CII EXCON 2019 recently held at Nellore in Andhra Pradesh, laid emphasis on technology as a key growth driver for sustainable infrastructure development. The ambitious target set by the Government of India towards achieving $5 trillion economy would help the Infrastructure and Construction Industry to explore new biz avenues for growth. The session was attended by senior officials from the Government, industry leaders and stakeholders from the infrastructure and construction equipment sectors. CII EXCON 2019 – South Asia's largest construction equipment trade fair will demonstrate the role of smart technologies and Next Gen construction equipment. Scheduled to be held at BIEC, Bengaluru from December 10-14, 2019, and spread over 3,00,000 sqm area, the trade event will have the participation of over 1250 exhibitors including over 350 overseas companies from across 25 countries including China, Germany, Italy, South Korea, Turkey, UK and USA.. The 5-day exhibition cum conference is expected to attarct over 70,000 business visitors from India and abroad. Member, EXCON 2019 Steering Committee & Chief Advisor, Puzzalona Group, T R Bharathan, said that the theme this year ―Smart i-tech- Next Gen India@75 will demonstrate the role of smart technologies and innovation in design in the manufacture of Gen Next construction equipment and machinery to support the rapid pace of infraa development in the country. India is expected to become the third largest construction market globally by 2022 and there has been large scale investment in infrastructure by the government which is driving growth opportunities.

Speaking on the occasion, Chairman, CII Andhra Pradesh & President- Group Quality & HSE, Mangal Industries, Vijay Naidu Galla, said that every sector requires a technological advancement and in India, there exists a huge demand for houses, thanks to country's fast urbanization. Using advanced technology in the construction sector, it is believed this demand could be met along with the other government initiatives for both home buyers and well as developers. Excon 2019 endeavors to build India's infrastructure in an ecologically sustainable manner, enabling projects on Smart Cities, supporting Swachh Bharat programs, promoting Skill Development and Make In India for achieving holistic growth in the infrastructure and related sectors. The Government had announced its intention to invest ₹100 lakh crore in infra development over the next 5 years and has also proposed expanding 1,25,000 km of rural roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana and creating a national highway grid. Through the PMGSY program, the government has planned to bring in connectivity between all villages by 2019 and 2,000 km of coastal connectivity roads have been recognized for development.

As part of the 10th year celebrations of EXCON, CII would organize special activities like celebrating Women in Infrastructure, exclusive Pavilions on AI, IoT, Robotics, Startups, Components & Parts; Job Fairs, Contest for School Children, Tree Plantation Day, besides Green Rating of CE Industry. EXCON addresses both marketing and educational platforms for all stakeholders. Government and Senior Bureaucrats capitalized it as a knowledge platform for various departments (PWDs and Civil Engineering Departments), Private Contractors, Builders, Road/ Infrastructure Developers, Smart City/ Urban Planning, Indian Army, Border Roads Organization, etc. to witness the latest Technology, Equipment's and Machinery. The Indian Construction Equipment Manufactures’ Association is the Sector Partner for EXCON 2019.