All you need to know about 28th Convergence India Expo and 6th Smart Cities India expo 2021

India is home to the third-largest ecosystem in the entire world as well as 21 unicorns. It is estimated that the number of start-ups will go past the one lakh mark by the year 2025 and the number of unicorns will go past 100. 

 

Back in 2015, the government had already invested 10,000 crore rupees for the growth of start-ups in the country and the desired growth in the start-up ecosystem can be noticed.
 

Supporting the government’s vision of transforming India into a digitally and sustainably empowered economy in the post-Covid era, India Trade Promotion Organization (ITPO) and Exhibitions India Group successfully organized India’s biggest tech and infra show in the form of the 28th Convergence India Expo and 6th Smart Cities India expo which featured participants across continents including- Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Czech Republic, France, Hong Kong, Ireland, Japan, Jordan, Luxembourg, Netherland, Russia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, South Korea, Taiwan, UAE USA, and the UK.
 

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Entering exposure of India Expo 2021

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While Convergence India expo reflected India’s ongoing digital revolution, the smart cities expo portrayed India’s modernization and development landscape. The expo successfully delivered an event that opened discourses on the growth of India’s digital economy and enabled entrepreneurship as a driving force for socio-economic development. 

 

The expo covered different sectors including Telecom & Broadcast, OTT, SatCom, IoT, FinTech, Blockchain, Cybersecurity, AI, Big Data & Analytics, Embedded Technology & Digital Gaming. 

 

Both the expos were inaugurated simultaneously by Shri Satyendra Jain, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Industries, Home, Public Works Department, Power, Urban Development and Transport, Government of NCT of Delhi. Speaking at the opening session on building smart cities for people, Jain highlighted the importance of AI (Artificial Learning) and ML (Machine Learning) in the making of smart cities. The event was organized keeping the basic coronavirus precautions in place.

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COVID-19 health and safety measures

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Representation of the event

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Registration desk

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The event was supported by several ministries of the government of India including the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology, Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Ministry of Science and Technology, and Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.

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Inauguration of the event 

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A stellar line-up of officials at the three-day expo

 

A key highlight of the three-day event was a visit by a stellar line-up of senior officials including Shri Kunal Kumar, IAS, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs; Shri Shobhit Agrawal, Partner KPMG India; Shri. P D Vaghela, IAS, Chairman, TRAI; Mr. Puneet Narang, Partner, Urban Transformation and Major Projects Advisory, IGH, KPMG in India; Dr. Renu Khosla, Director, CURE; Mr. Satish Jamadagni, Vice-Chair, TSDI; Dr, S K Gupta, Secretary, TRAI; Shri Amit Kumar Ghosh, IAS, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Road, Transport & Highways; Mr. Puneet Anand, AVP-Corporate Affairs Unit, Hyundai Motor, India, and several others.
 

Highlights of the expo:

A “Start-up pavilion” was organized by “Start-up India” featuring over 35 startups across different segments of ICT & Smart Cities technologies, bringing to light innovations this year, and supporting the government’s initiative of an “Atma Nirbhar Bharat.” 

 

 A “start-up pitch” opportunity was also organized by IIT Patna (supported by the Government of Bihar). The top 3 startups with the best “start-up” pitches were given an incubation opportunity with IIT Patna.
 

The Smart City India (SCI) Awards, including FinTech India Awards, were designed to felicitate, recognize, and encourage individuals, policymakers, companies, municipalities, government bodies, and associations to illuminate the work done across both urban and rural sectors.
 

It was a first of its kind expo which has adopted a hybrid format including both physical and digital format of events being held simultaneously. At least 60 international exhibitors connected globally with the participants through interactive features including Exhibitor Live Chats, Virtual Booths, Exhibitor Meetings, and more.
 

 

Distinguished Speakers on the importance of smart cities

 

Durga Shanker Mishra, Secretary Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs Learning from Smart Cities highlighted how smart-cities are critical for new citizen-centric development to improve livability, economic-ability & sustainability of our present & future cities. We need to develop smart infrastructure, services/amenities. 

 

 Mishra said, “The first learning is that cities are for people, for its citizens, and not just for corporations and bureaucrats. Citizens have demonstrated that they can come together to think, aspire, benchmark, and create targets for what their city needs to do and what will be best for citizens. The main learning from Smart Cities is to identify how to get more from less and how to make cities more inclusive.” 

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Board member Durga Shanker Mishra addresses the expo

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H.E. Andre Aranha Corrêa do Lago, Ambassador, Embassy of Brazil pointed out how important is the concept of smart cities for the environment, as it must be both economic and social.

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Board member H.E. Andre Aranha Corrêa do Lago speech

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Shri Rajeev Talwar, CEO, DLF, expressed his thoughts on the importance of infrastructure for the ever-growing Indian population. He commented, “Around 50 percent of India’s population will be living in cities by the middle of this century, and what we need now is nothing short of an infrastructure and housing revolution in the country.”

Dr. O.P. Agarwal, CEO, WRI India at the City Leaders Conclave also pointed out how much cities need to accommodate the growing population and be braced for the quadrupling of population.”

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Dr. O.P. Agarwal, CEO, WRI India speech

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Distinguished Speakers on the importance of the digital revolution

 

Mr. Saurabh Gaur, IAS, Joint Secretary Meity pointed out how the digital revolution is going to play a major role in the development of both mid-sized and SME companies. He also emphasized that the government will always be ready to support the digital revolution.

 

Mr. Hari Om Rai, Chairman and Managing Director, Lava International focused on how integrated now smartphones are in a person’s day to day life and the value it is going to create in manufacturing.”

 

Mr. Anil Kumar Jain, CEO, NIEI said, “The revolution which has been achieved by the telecom sector will also be achieved by tech-based companies in the upcoming digital revolution. He also highlighted the need for greater cooperation between both private and government sector to take the revolution forward.” 

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Board addresses and Discussion

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Mr. Ankur Malhotra, Director Mazars, India highlighted how important it is for digital organizations to learn from the coronavirus pandemic. He commented that while we must try to avoid pandemics of such nature in the future, we must brace ourselves for it.

 

Dr. Rishi Bhatnagar, President, AERIS Communication provided an important tip for people not to lose jobs in the future. He pointed that people must learn to unskilled and upskill themselves.

 

 

Galaxy of brands showcase their products:

Several companies who were present at the expo included major brands like LG, Hyundai, Ubon, and Mahindra. Several innovative start-up brands including Innotech which deals in Machines, Wires, Data Cables, and Chargers, M-Core which deals with cable & fiber, OptiLink which produces PLC Splitters, FSDB, ODF, and Patch Cords, Matrix which produces telecom security-related equipment also participated. 

 

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Optilink Board 

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Event Spot

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Mr. Ankur Malhotra, Director Mazars told Analytics Steps that the pandemic has taught all of us a lot, it has forced all of us to step out of our comfort zones and reinvent ourselves. Technological acceleration is the key to brace for the upcoming pandemics, which can wreak havoc if we are unprepared for it. 

 

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Board addresses and representation 

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Kangin A China-based company producing electroacoustic equipment which has recently opened its branch in India was also present in the occasion. Deputy General Manager Li Shunlun in an exclusive interview with Analytics Steps told that the company has opened its branch in Noida in 2019 and can see a lot of potential in the Indian market.

VNPL and NERON, a reputed player in the unified communication industry co-founder Dev Kumar in an exclusive interview told Analytics Steps that the company is looking to expand further its operations in the country. The company has won several awards including the Aegis Graham Bell Award 2017 for its revolutionary products.

 

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Event Spot

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Comp-Point Systems Director of Technical Operations Atul Mishra told Analytics Steps in an exclusive interview that the company is dedicated to provide latest technology to children. The company has mushroomed across schools all over India since its inception in the mid-eighties.

 

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Robotic work system