■ Carrie Chan／Jasmin Zhuang
On March 6-8, the 19th IAAPI Expo was grandly held at Hell 2, Bombay Exhibition Centre, India. GTI attended the show as an exhibitor and directly showed you the IAAPI Expo as well as the Indian market.

As the largest country in South Asia, India the second most populous country with 1.3 billion people in 2017. “Currently, the Indian industry is expected to grow at CAGR of more than 30% with annual revenue of around USD315 million in 2018, which is estimated to grow to at least USD960 million by 2022. With the population 1.22 billion, India just have 5% of the Indian population in the amusement industry. That’s 95% that needs to be exploited. As a result, India is a big potential market. Every year, the industrial value is growing approximately 23%-24%.

 GTI’s general manager Mr. Jack Chang (Mid) and IAAPI’s president Mr. Pradeep Kumar Sharma (R2)

“The Indian market is suitable for everything starting from redemption games and video games to the big roller coasters and big thrill rides and machines. India is open for good quality and safety adhering products. Currently, the Indian market has about 100 amusement parks (big and small) and about 40 indoor centers (professionally managed). It is just too small for the 1.22 billion population. So we need to grow. Generally, the Indian market is looking for VR products. It is a big potential business in India, ” added by Mr. Pradeep.

Covering 10,000 sq.m, IAAPI 2019 attracted over 140+ exhibitors from 20 countries. such as India, Philippines, Italy, the UK, France, China and so on. Among them, Chinese exhibitors accounted for 25%.  Totally, there were 33 Chinese exhibitors,including Flying, Movie Power, No. 3 Animation, LS Game, Huaqin, WAHLAP, Nine D, Cowboy, Families of Childhood, Letian. On the one hand, it reflected that China game & amusement industry develops very fast, On the other hand, it confirmed that the industrial companies showed their great appetite for India or even South Asia market.

Exhibits swept up every kinds of amusement, including video games, water-related equipment, 3D animation, admission system, bowling, honky, bumper car, trampoline, land-based amusement equipment, redemption machine, kiddie ride, slide, simulator, and the like. Generally, the show mainly exhibited children amusement equipment and attraction facilities. There was less gift machines. And also, as Mr. Pradeep said, VR products were extremely few.

IAAPI Expo is the only professional feast for games & amusement in South Asia. With thousands of visitors from home and abroad, IAAPI Expo becomes the window to enter into Indian amusement industry market. GTI keeps a friendly and cooperative relation with IAAPI Association. During the 10th anniversary of GTI Asia China Expo, Mr. Pradeep Kumar Sharma, the president of IAAPI Association was invited to the opening ceremony and attended to the Sino-India Business Dinner which was held by the organizing committee of GTI Asia China Expo. There, Mr. Pradeep shared his idea of the business opportunities and prospects for cooperation between China and India with Mr. Thomas and 20+ representatives from Arccer, (Huatai) Baishun, Song Wang, Zhanhui, Nitto Fun, Superboy, Yuan Gong, DoDo Bird, Bee Animation, Leqi, Yuehua, Keku and other Chinese industrial companies. 

GTI’s general manager Mr. Jack Chang, English editors Ms. Sally Chang and Mr. Allen Wei set up booth at No. C39. At the show floor, GTI’s team actively distributed Game Time International Magazine, promoted GTI Asia Taipei Expo and GTI Asia China Expo. What’s more, the president of IAAPI made a promise that they will invite Indian buyers to GTI Asia China Expo. GTI was and will assist Asian game & amusement to go abroad and explores more new business opportunities for manufacturers.

Next year, the 20th IAAPI Expo will be held on Feb. 26-28 at Hall 2, Bombay Exhibition Centre, India.

※The article is published in the GTI Magazine Issue No. 175 in May 2019