IEIA hosts MICE Industry Leaders Connect: Focus West in Mumbai; Regional MICE Task Force proposed
MICE Industry Leaders Connect- Focus West
Suman Billa, IAS, Addl Secretary and DG, MoT, praised the establishment of the Maharashtra Convention Bureau as a critical initiative to position Mumbai & Maharashtra more competitively on the global MICE map. Sanjay Yadav, IAS, Secretary, Maharashtra Tourism also shared that new convention centers are scheduled to open in Nagpur by next year, followed by upcoming projects in Pune, Kolhapur, Nashik, and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar.
India has made notable strides in developing world-class convention and exhibition infrastructure, but a significant gap remains between general infrastructure development and the capacity of its tourism and hospitality sector. Bridging this gap will be crucial to unlocking India’s full potential in the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) sector, according to key insights shared by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.
Speaking at the Indian Exhibition Industry Association (IEIA) MICE Industry Leaders Connect: Focus West at the Jio World Convention Centre (JWCC) on October 16, 2026, in Mumbai, Suman Billa, IAS, Additional Secretary and Director General, Ministry of Tourism, highlighted the country’s transformation. “India’s MICE infrastructure has undergone a major shift over the past decade. The country now boasts modern convention centres capable of hosting large international events, bolstered by the experience gained from hosting major global engagements, including India’s G20 presidency. Leading venues like Bharat Mandapam, Yashobhoomi, and JWCC demonstrate our growing capability to host international business gatherings at scale,” he stated.
Billa praised the establishment of the Maharashtra Convention Bureau as a critical initiative to position Mumbai and Maharashtra more competitively on the global MICE map. Driven under the leadership of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Maharashtra Tourism, the bureau aims to enhance destination-led promotion, support international convention bidding, and deepen collaboration between government and trade stakeholders.
Underscoring the opportunity ahead, Billa called for setting up dedicated convention bureaus in other states and major cities to capture larger shares of international trade shows and corporate conventions. With India currently accounting for just 1% of the global MICE business, he emphasised that the country is poised for exponential growth, anchored by its expanding venue footprint.
Reinforcing this vision, Sanjay Yadav, IAS, Secretary, Tourism, Govt. of Maharashtra proposed the creation of a Western Region MICE Task Force to drive regional synergy across Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Goa. “Greater coordination among stakeholders across western India could encourage knowledge-sharing, joint international outreach, and collaborative bidding,” Yadav said. He also shared that new convention centers are scheduled to open in Nagpur by next year, followed by upcoming projects in Pune, Kolhapur, Nashik, and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar.
Sooraj Dhawan, President, IEIA, said, “India has a significant opportunity to strengthen its position on the global MICE map by bringing together world-class venues, seamless connectivity, progressive policies and a strong partnership between government and industry. Western India, with its established business centres, growing infrastructure and diverse tourism offerings, is well placed to attract major international exhibitions and conferences. Through IEIA, MICE Industry Leaders Connect: Focus West, we aim to encourage meaningful dialogue and actionable collaboration that can help transform this potential into sustainable growth for India’s exhibition and business events industry.”
The inaugural session also featured Devendra Bharma, CEO, Jio World Convention Centre, alongside the regional leaders like Dr. Abhay Arvind Bedekar, IAS, Additional Managing Director, Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board, and Saumil Ranjan Chaubey, IAS, Managing Director, Chhattisgarh Tourism Board.
