Mumbai : “Green and sustainable” the mantra that drives change and continues to evolve in every industry is the focus of the “World of Concrete 2023” that is held here from Oct 18 to 30.
As many as 200 exhibitors and 10,000 industry professionals, policy-makers, decision-makers, influencers and technical experts highlighted this Expo, which featured a wide range of products and technologies related to concrete, masonry, construction and equipment.
“While Internet of Things (IOT) and Blockchain technology are playing a major role in this industry, Trust remains an important factor in this also,” according to Sanjay Bhatia, IAS, Upa Lokayukta, Maharashtra State and former Chairman, Mumbai Port Trust & former Vice-Chairman & MD, CICDO.
Narrating the case of the proposed CIDCO-Navi Mumbai airport here, he said lack of trust between CIDCO and the PAPs (Project-Affected Persons) had witnessed this project being stalled from the 90s to 2014 before the concerned stakeholders “meditated” upon it and finally resolved 99% of the concerned issues.
Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director, Informa Markets which organized the event, noted that India’s construction sector employed around 71 million workers as of 2023 and aimed at reaching 100 million by 2030 to support national economic growth.
“Government initiatives like ‘Housing for All’ and Smart City projects are propelling urban infrastructure and construction development,” he said, adding that the surge in demand for residential housing – driven by increased urbanization and rising household incomes – further underscores the industry’s potential.
Describing this Expo as a commitment to this landscape and its perfect alignment with India’s mission to enhance urban infrastructure, Mudras said a white paper on “Artificial Intelligence in Construction” – coming off CEOs and CTOs discussions on industry challenges and milestone achievements – would be unveiled here.
Rajneesh Khattar, Senior Group Director, Informa Markets in India, said that India is on the cusp of takeoff in growth with this year’s statistics highlighting technology and sustainability as +core+ factors. Even private stakeholders were ready to “stick their necks out” provided there was a silver lining here, he said.
Over 70 speakers delivered insightful sessions on various topics including sustainable concrete construction practices, digital and automation technologies in construction, net zero concrete.
The expertly curated conference was envisaged to highlight innovations in the construction sector. India’s concrete industry, which is pivotal for infrastructure development and economic growth, is experiencing increasing demand across diverse projects – roads, bridges, airports, railways and housing initiatives.
This evolving sector is adopting advanced construction techniques and sustainable practices. The construction industry in India is on a steady growth trajectory with a projected 9.9% CAGR from 2023 to 2027 – culminating in a Rs 66,954.8 billion construction output by 2027, thus reflecting its substantial role in the nation’s economic advancement.
The Expo is being supported by the Builders Association of India, National Highways Builders Federation (NHBF), Construction Equipment Rental Association, Waterproofers Association of India, National Small Industries Corporation and Indian Concrete Institute, among others.
