Inaugural India International Furniture Fair to widen horizons for the Indian furniture industry with three days of business and knowledge exchange.
The India International Furniture Fair is gearing up for its maiden showcase of premium furniture and furnishings products in Mumbai. The three-day exhibition will see participation from well-known brands from all over the world as well as renowned designers and industry experts sharing invaluable insights on the latest trends and developments at a design seminar.
Organised by MP International Pte Ltd (MPI) and International Furniture Fair Singapore (IFFS) Pte Ltd, IIFF will be held from 16 to 18 November 2011 at Bombay Convention and Exhibition Centre in NSE Estate, Off Western Express Highway Goregaon (East), Mumbai.
The fair will witness some 100 participating companies and brands from leading furniture names from around the world. The trade show, expected to spread over 8,000 square metres, will feature 16 participating countries including Singapore, Malaysia, China, Spain, India, United States, United Kingdom to name a few. Country pavilions include China, Singapore and Spain.
Besides the various pavilions, there would also be two half-day design seminars dedicated to the discussion on emerging furniture design trends on the global and Indian platforms. Seven power-packed sessions will take place where prominent industry professionals will delve into topics ranging from aesthetics in furniture design from Indian and global perspectives to design trend-spotting for India’s residential and hospitality sectors as well as the rise of sustainable green architecture.
The design seminar will see reputed names of the Indian architecture Industry like Karan Grover, the first architect to receive the platinum award for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design from United States Green Building Council. Grover will be sharing the benefits of sustainable architecture and design. Kalhan Mattoo, principal architect of Planet 3 Studios and Rajeev Ramprakash, head of design strategy of Godrej Properties, who will give invaluable insights to the emerging design trends and taste preferences of India’s urban generation.
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On the international front, renowned Spanish furniture and interior designers, Amparo Muñoz and Sergio Pérez Fortea, will open the first and second day’s design seminar respectively, giving an overview on aesthetics in global furniture design. Criswell Davis, consultant of American Hardwood Export Council, United States, will examine the world’s current and future source of furniture materials, including sustainable materials.
To enrich the international exhibitors’ visit to IIFF, a retail business symposium and industry tour is planned specially for those who are new to the emerging Indian market. Leading local industry experts like Nitin Killawala, principal architect of Nitin Killawala and Associates and Shirish Dalal, former president of Association of Furniture Manufacturers and Traders, will share their expertise and knowledge on India’s organised retail sector and business structure. Attendees will gain insights on effective pitching techniques to the Indian trade buyers as well as the country’s latest warehousing capabilities to effectively improve foreign suppliers’ supply chain management.
According to Ms Sylvia Phua, chief executive officer of MP International, “The launch of IIFF will add value to the massive Indian market with a credible buyer-seller meeting place for industry members to source innovative, new-to-market product offerings and keep abreast of major global design and industry trends.”
International exhibitors and top-tier buyers can look forward to intensive project pitching sessions, an initiative launched by the organisers. Furniture manufacturers, targeting the contract furniture segment specifically in the sectors of hospitality and residential development, will present their product value and business capabilities to top-tier buyers and decision makers in the contract furniture business. The activity will allow buyers to meet and evaluate potential suppliers in a shortest time possible, thus maximising their time and resources at the show.
IIFF has garnered strong support from several key organisations from India including Association of Furniture Manufacturers of India, Association of Furniture Manufacturers and Traders, Council of Architecture, Builders’ Association of India and Institute of Indian Interior Designers. The show is also endorsed by several reputed international associations including Dongguan Famous Furniture Association, Singapore Furniture Industries Council, Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Furniture Entrepreneur Association and VCCI trade and Service One Member Company International Trade Promotion and Service Centre. As one of the fast-developing countries in the world, India‘s furniture market is increasing at a compound annual growth rate of 30 per cent according to KPMG report. India’s strong demand for high-end furniture and furnishings attracted the organisers of Asia’s largest and most successful furniture show to launch its trade show in Mumbai. The show is expected to draw over 5,000 trade visitors and buyers from India and the rest of South Asia, targeting furniture importers, retailers and distributors, architects, interior designers, hospitality companies, commercial and residential property owners and developers.
Online pre-registration for trade visitors is available at www.indiafurniturefair.com until 11 November. Interested visitors may also register onsite from 16 to 18 November during registration hours.
For more information on the event, please visit www.indiafurniturefair.com.