Earlier today, Messe Frankfurt Trade Fairs India Pvt Ltd, Messe Frankfurt’s Indian subsidiary, announced the acquisition of the LED Expo and Media Expo trade fairs from founders Media Exposition & Events and MEX Exhibitions Pvt Ltd. With LED Expo and Media Expo, Messe Frankfurt is expanding its portfolio by two additional events in its Technology & Production division and by three in Entertainment, Media & Creation. With its involvement in the market for LED lighting technology and LED components and for advertising technology and illuminated advertising, the Group now organises a total of 14 events on the subcontinent.

Wolfgang Marzin, President and Chief Executive Officer of Messe Frankfurt: “LED Expo in Delhi and Mumbai and the Media Expos in Delhi, Mumbai and Calcutta are already very well established in their respective sectors. With the acquisition of these five events, Messe Frankfurt aims to draw on its professionalism and its wealth of experience with a view to further enhancing the events for its customers.” At the signing of the agreement, Raj Manek, Managing Director of Messe Frankfurt Trade Fairs India Pvt. Ltd, added: “There is still considerable potential for growth in both of these sectors. We would like to give Indian companies access to our worldwide infrastructure and to help our international partners in their activities on the Indian market.”

Media Exposition & Events and MEX Exhibitions have extensive experience in the trade fair, advertising and publishing sectors. The company’s portfolio includes events in the fields of LED and lighting technology, advertising technology and illuminated advertising, retailing, gifts, furniture and fittings, IT and construction, which not only take place all over India but also in Singapore, Dubai and Thailand. At the official signing, Gaurav Jeet Singh, Managing Director of Media Exposition & Events and MEX Exhibitions, explained: “We will work together closely with Messe Frankfurt to ensure a smooth transition and with a view to taking these two events to a new level. We also look forward to working together with Messe Frankfurt on other suitable events in future.”

LED Expo takes places in Delhi every December and in Mumbai every May. It is the only trade fair in India to specialize exclusively in LED products. Over 250 exhibitors from 14 countries and 22,000 visitors came to Delhi for the event in 2013. The Mumbai event recently played host to 80 exhibitors and 6,620 visitors.

For the foreseeable future, LED Expo will take place independently of Light India, which is also in the Messe Frankfurt portfolio. LED Expo is part of Messe Frankfurt’s program of events for the “Building & Energy” division, which also includes flagship event Light + Building, which is held in Frankfurt every two years and is next scheduled to take place between 13 and 18 March 2016.

Media Expo is the largest trade fair for illuminated advertising and advertising technology and is held annually in Delhi, Mumbai and Calcutta. The products range from indoor and outdoor advertising, poster and textile printing to solutions for digital advertising screens and visual merchandising. Media Expo will find its place as a niche brand in Messe Frankfurt’s Entertainment, Media & Creation business field, supplementing the Prolight + Sound brand with its events in Frankfurt, Moscow, Shanghai and Guangzhou.

Both the market for LED lighting technology and LED components and the market for illuminated advertising and advertising technology are enjoying growth in India. LED products currently account for four percent of the market at most. By 2020, this is expected to increase to between 18 and 20 percent. There is growing awareness among the Indian population regarding the advantages of environmentally friendly lighting technology. Demand is also set to rise in coming years as a result of government measures. In the field of illuminated advertising, digital printing and other advertising media, rising demand is generated by the growing retail and services sector, but also by the increasing number of multinational companies who are setting up in India. The growing Indian middle class is another contributing factor to the 12 percent increase in sales that is expected in the advertising sector in 2014.

Messe Frankfurt India’s portfolio currently includes the following trade fairs: ACMA Automechanika New Delhi, Automotive Engineering Show, Ambiente India, Heimtextil India, Techtextil India, Light India, SPS Automation India, Secutech India, Watertech India, Cleantech India, Wastetech India and Pollutech India.

The next LED Expos are scheduled to take place in New Delhi between 5 and 7 December 2014 and in Mumbai in May 2015. The Media Expos will be opening their doors in New Delhi from 1 to 3 August 2014, in Calcutta from 7 to 9 November 2014 and in Mumbai in January 2015.