Excon 2007 sees big names

Excon 2007, the fourth edition of the five-day construction equipment and construction technology fair, which started at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC), has attracted a record participation from both domestic and international firms.

As many as 282 exhibitors are showcasing their products and services in the construction equipment sector and the technological prowess of the construction equipment industry.

There are five international pavilions, from Germany, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Italy and China.

In all, there are 56 overseas companies participating at the expo. Other countries that have sent delegations to the expo, include Japan, Singapore, US, Netherlands, Spain, Russia and France.

The exhibition was inaugurated by Karnataka Governor Rameshwar Thakur in the presence of Vipin Sondhi, chairman of Excon 2007, S K Mittra, co-chairman, Excon 2007, KV Kamath, vice-chairman, CII, and N Reguraj, chairman, CII, Karnataka State Council.

Speaking on the occasion, Kamath said like many other sectors, the construction industry was also facing an acute shortage of manpower. "There is a battle for manpower everywhere and there are solutions to overcome the problem," he said.

"It is certain that India will achieve 10 per cent growth. It has happened in many countries across the world. It was Japan in the 1950s, tiger economies and China in the last few years and now it is the time of India. We are only in the third year of the economic boom and there is a long way to go for us to achieve higher economic growth," Kamath said.