IEEMA appoints Hamza Arsiwala as President
Indian Electrical & Electronics Manufacturers’ Association (IEEMA), the apex association of the Indian electrical equipment manufacturing industry, has announced the appointment of Hamza Arsiwala, as its new President for the year 2023-24.
In his first media interview after taking charge, Mr. Arsiwala spoke to mojo4industry’s Subhajit Roy and outlines his top priorities as the IEEMA President.
What will be your primary objectives to achieve?
I am honored to have been elected as President and nominated as well. There are significant expectations for increasing the exports of our sector from its current value of 10 billion, aiming to multiply it by five times over the next five years. Substantial efforts are underway through IEEMA and IoT. The majority of our membership consists of medium and small-scale enterprises, and we aim to support them in meeting the demands of international opportunities.
In addition, we have a prestigious and successful platform known as Elecrama. Our goal is to globalize the Elecrama brand, leveraging its strong reputation in overseas markets. This initiative is in contrast to its domestic recognition, where there is room for growth.
We will continue to collaborate closely with governments to develop solutions and platforms aligned with their objectives. This is particularly critical as our country is on the path to becoming one of the world’s largest economies, and the power sector plays a crucial role in this transformation. We are fully committed to aligning with policymakers to ensure the realization of these goals.
IEEMA is an autonomous body led by a Director General, and they have implemented an IoT system. We have decided to enhance their capabilities and processes through international interventions. Our focus is on strengthening our human capital, making it more efficient and capable, in line with our objectives. These are some of the plans we are currently implementing.
Regarding policy advocacy, can you provide insights into the current status of policies, especially those related to anti-dumping duties?
All the policies are favorable at present. We have closely collaborated with the Ministry of Power and the Ministry of Commerce, and they have been very supportive. When we engage with them, they promptly offer solutions without bureaucratic complications. Transparency is maintained throughout, and their primary focus is on contributing to the country’s economic growth. They address the requirements related to quality, growth, and compliance, and provide necessary government support to ensure these objectives are met.
Has the significant growth of Elecrama translated into tangible results on the ground through the Real Buyer-Seller Meets (RBSMs) and the Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) that have been executed thus far?
Certainly, Elecrama has experienced substantial growth, and the Real Buyer-Seller Meets (RBSMs) and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) signed have indeed yielded tangible results on the ground.
RBSMs are crucial as they involve physical interactions between actual buyers and sellers. During the last Elecrama event, we witnessed participation from approximately 80 countries, including newcomers like Australia and the USA. These RBSMs serve as the initial introduction where buyers and sellers meet in person, establish understanding, and sometimes even finalize potential contracts and MoUs, which often amount to significant sums, measured in billions of dollars. Although these agreements may take some time to translate into actual transactions, we observe substantial progress.
Additionally, the Ministry of Commerce provides substantial funding and support for RBSMs, demonstrating government backing. They offer concessions and grants to further enhance these interactions. The success of RBSMs in Elecrama has led to their incorporation as an independent model in other exhibitions like Distribulec, and we plan to continue this model in various other forums. This ongoing interaction aims to attract overseas buyers, connect them with Indian sellers, and facilitate trade, ultimately driving business growth.
How big the next Elecrama is going to be?
The success we’ve experienced can be attributed to several factors: a significant response and the largest participation from our membership and overseas customers, the effectiveness of Real Buyer-Seller Meets (RBSMs) and Domestic Buyer-Sellers Meets (DBSMs), engagement with diverse industries including defense and startups, collaboration with the Ministry of Power, and the establishment of CEO Roundtables. These avenues provided open and proactive discussions, prompt solutions, and substantial outcomes.
In the past year, we achieved the highest revenue in India, surpassing 100 crores, along with increased profits. While our primary objective is industry welfare, these financial results are a byproduct of our efforts. Looking ahead to the next Elecrama, our expectation is for it to continue growing. With changing times and evolving opportunities, we anticipate even greater participation, expansion, and an ongoing trend of growth for Elecrama.
