Marking a defining milestone for India’s exhibition and MICE industry, the 15th IEIA Open Seminar & Exhibition Services Expo 2026 concluded on a resounding high, bringing together the most influential voices, policymakers, innovators, and global stakeholders under one roof to shape the future of India’s exhibition ecosystem. The landmark edition also celebrated a historic milestone — 20 years of the Indian Exhibition Industry Association (IEIA) — commemorating two decades of leadership, advocacy, collaboration, and transformation that have helped position India among the world’s fastest-growing and most promising exhibition markets.
Organised by IEIA, the flagship international conclave welcomed more than 1,200 industry leaders, global delegates, CEOs, venue owners, exhibition organisers, service providers, trade associations, and senior government representatives, making it the largest and most influential gathering of India’s exhibition industry to date. Held under the compelling theme “When the Right Dots Meet, Industry Moves,” the 15th edition served as a powerful platform for collaboration, innovation, knowledge exchange, strategic networking, and business acceleration — reaffirming India’s emergence as a global exhibitions and MICE powerhouse.
The grand inaugural ceremony set the tone for the event, bringing together eminent dignitaries, senior policymakers, and global thought leaders who underscored the strategic importance of exhibitions in driving trade, tourism, manufacturing, investments, and international business engagement.
The inaugural session was graced by distinguished leaders, including Jawed Ashraf, IFS (Retd.), Chairman, India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO); Suman Billa, IAS, Additional Secretary & Director General, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India; Sooraj Dhawan, President, IEIA; Rakesh Kumar, Chairman, India Exposition Mart Limited (IEML); Jagdish Patankar, Hon. Secretary, IEIA; Ubaid Ahmad, Vice President, IEIA; and Nidhi Sharma, Executive Director, IEIA, along with members of the Executive Committee.
Delivering the chief guest address, Jawed Ashraf highlighted the remarkable evolution of India’s exhibition industry, noting that the growth of large-scale events and increasing global participation continues to contribute significantly to economic growth and employment generation. Emphasising the enduring value of face-to-face engagement in the age of AI, he underscored the government’s role as a force multiplier for the sector and called for integrated, PPP-led collaboration to create seamless experiences for participants and strengthen the overall ecosystem.
In his special address, Suman Billa spoke about the national vision to increase tourism’s contribution to India’s GDP from 5% to 10% over the next decade, with the MICE segment expected to be a major growth driver. He highlighted that with India emerging as one of the fastest-growing economies globally, exhibitions will play a critical role in showcasing the country’s technologies, manufacturing capabilities, and services to international markets. He also emphasised the need to optimise and better utilise India’s expanding MICE infrastructure through proactive collaboration.
Sooraj Dhawan, President, IEIA, reinforced the industry’s role as a catalyst for national growth, stating that exhibitions are platforms that showcase innovation and manufacturing excellence to the world. He highlighted IEIA’s ongoing collaboration with the Ministries of Tourism and Commerce & Industry to strengthen the exhibition ecosystem and contribute meaningfully to India’s vision of becoming the “Expo Hub of the World.”
Rakesh Kumar, Chairman, IEML, expressed pride in celebrating 20 years alongside IEIA, noting the association’s role in uniting organisers, venues, and stakeholders across the country. He added that the upcoming Noida International Airport will further enhance connectivity and unlock new opportunities for the industry, reaffirming IEML’s commitment to being a venue built by exhibitors, for exhibitors.