The prestigious and largest concrete exhibition from USA, World of Concrete, has successfully launched its inaugural edition in India at the Hitex Exhibition Centre in Hyderabad.

Professionals from the construction industry witnessed this specialist event for the concrete industry with great interest and enthusiasm, which resulted in a hundred representatives of leading industry suppliers and 3,248 professional registrants from India and abroad. The visitors were interested to see the advancement in the concrete industry which was evident with the quality of products, equipment, technology and services on display during the exhibition. This edition proved to be an important step to promote the commercial concrete industry in India. ´We are highly pleased with the turnout for the first edition of World of Concrete in India,´ said Tom Cindric, Vice-President, Hanley Wood Exhibitions, USA. World of Concrete India has been successful in

providing business opportunities, networking services and one-on-one meetings with the potential customers. Live demos of equipment and applications in dedicated indoor and outdoor areas at the exhibition venue and presentation of important product and techniques like aggregate processing, aggregates, anchors and fasteners, batching equipment, cleaning materials and equipment, coatings inspection, measurement, software, floors and slabs, cutting and drilling, decorative concrete, demolition equipment and materials by the exhibitors, were the highlight of this event. ´The success of World of Concrete was the result of our belief in focused exhibitions,´said Rajan Sharma, Director, Inter Ads Exhibitions.

The participants were extremely pleased with their interaction with both existing and prospective customers and also gained many positive leads. ´It has been encouraging to see the steady flow of visitors and the quality of enquiries from attendees. I feel that World of Concrete has a strong future in India,´ said RE Howden, Managing Director, Grass Concrete Limited, England, Director, Curecret Distribution Inc USA. The inauguration of World of Concrete India 2013 was held concurrently with the international conference titled `ICI-IWC 2013,` organised by Indian Concrete Institute on 23 October 2013, at the National Academy of Construction in Hyderabad. The lamp was lit in the august presence of Dr. Pronab Sen, Chairman, National Statistical Commission, Govt. of India, Er N V S Reddy, Managing Director, Hyderabad Metro Rail Ltd, Dr.Manmohan Kalgal, Ultratech Cement, Er. Jose Kurian, President, ICI, Er. Ar. S P Anchuri, Secretary, Organizing Committee, ICI-IWC 2013, Er. Vijay Kulkarni, Convener, Scientific Committee, ICI, Er. Raj Pillai, Vice-President (South), ICI, Tom Cindric, Vice-President, Hanley Wood Exhibitions, USA, and Mr. Rajan Sharma, Director, Inter Ads Exhibitions. The inaugural ceremony drew eminent personalities and academicians from the length and breadth of the country.

The international conference ICI-IWC 2013 had 15 technical sessions and 80 speakers from India and abroad who deliberated on the theme `Innovations in Concrete for Meeting Infrastructure Challenge.` The conference was attended by 754 delegates from India and abroad. ´Hyderabad has witnessed the presence of many professionals from the construction industry during the conference and exhibition and we hope to continue this tradition in every October, ´said Er. Ar. S.P. Anchuri, Organising Secretary, ICI-IWC 2013.

World of Concrete India has been successful in providing business opportunities, networking services and one-on-one meetings with the potential customers.