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As we close the pages of 2025 and step into a year of renewed opportunity, this edition of TradeFairTimes serves as both a reflection and a forward-looking lens on an industry that continues to evolve with resilience and ambition.
A key highlight of this issue is our 2025 Year in Review, where we capture the major developments that shaped the exhibition, MICE, and trade promotion ecosystem over the past year. From policy moves and infrastructure announcements to landmark exhibitions and international agreements, 2025 has underscored the growing strategic importance of trade fairs as engines of economic and sectoral growth.
We are particularly encouraged by the response to our special interviews with leading organisers, who candidly shared how 2025 unfolded for them and how they are preparing for 2026. Infrastructure and policy remain central to the industry’s future. The announcement of a 260-metre-tall tower with a convention centre in Thane signals Maharashtra’s continued intent to strengthen its convention and exhibition capabilities, even as challenges such as fire safety compliance at venues like the DDA Convention Centre remind us of the critical need for robust governance and safety standards. In this context, the Union Tourism Ministry’s plan to launch city-level convention promotion bureaus in 2026 is a timely and welcome step toward more structured destination marketing and MICE development.
This issue also carries thought leadership that challenges conventional thinking. Our Editor-in-Chief M.Q. Syed examines the persistent disparities in exhibition infrastructure across Tier-2 cities in India, while Jagriti Pandey’s incisive column questions the relevance of Western exhibition strategies in an increasingly India-centric marketplace. On the global front, historic trade agreements between India and New Zealand, and the signing of the India-Oman CEPA, reinforce the expanding canvas for cross-border trade and exhibitions.
Looking ahead, the momentum continues with announcements and previews of upcoming platforms such as PackVision Expo 2026 in Pune, the India International Industrial & EV Expo in Kochi, FAN Expo South 2026 in Hyderabad, and Swadeshi Mela 2026, alongside successful editions of India International Travel Mart in Pune and Hyderabad. Together, these stories paint a picture of an industry that is expanding in scale, deepening in relevance, and increasingly confident in its global role. As always, TradeFairTimes remains committed to documenting this journey with insight, balance, and an industry-first perspective. We hope this edition informs, provokes thought, and adds value as you plan for the year ahead!