The first Indian
Monument Stone Fair is being organised by Indian Monument Manufacturers
Association (IMMA) in Chennai from 23 to 26 January, 2003 – an
organisation, which had spearheaded the fight against anti-dumping
investigations by the European Union (EU) against import of Indian
monuments into the EU region.
India is a major
exporter of natural stone and granite, which is the second largest
foreign exchange earner for India besides iron ore in minerals
category. The export of granite in 2001-02 was around Rs. 2600
crore as against Rs. 2100 crore in the previous year. The share
of granite monuments in total granite exports is around Rs. 800
crore. India is also the largest exporter of monuments and commenced
as far back as 1935 when hand punched monuments were exported
to UK. The EOU scheme, which was introduced in 1980, helped the
industry to modernise as it opened a window to usher in latest
technologies for stone processing. Over the last two decades Indian
industry has modernised to global standards and Indian monuments
are exported to about 15 countries in different granites, in different
thickness and in different sculptured workmanship involving very
delicate workmanship and such pieces are normally exported in
containers from the factories. With its highly skilled manpower
and stone technology, India has contributed to the world with
many prestigious monument projects such as Holocaust Museum in
Washington; Vietnam War Memorial in Washington; Hiroshima Atom
Bomb Memorial in Japan; Stillborn Child Memorial in New Zealand;
Heath Spa Memorial in the Black Forest of Germany; Sun Clock in
Japan; and Apollo Disaster Memorial in USA.
Monuments are predominately
made up of granite and the entire monument industry is based in
Southern India. The majority of factories are in Tamil Nadu. The
main markets are the EU (which includes UK, Germany and France),
USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Korea, which used
to be the main buyers in the late eighties and in early nineties,
China took over the market completely. Incidentally, China has
emerged as the largest player in stone industry surpassing even
Italy form the first position. With the threat to the Indian industry
by China and few other East European countries, like Poland, Romania,
Hungary and South Africa and the latest Vietnam, the Association
have decided to strategically hold the exhibition and Fair to
give India the focus which is very urgent and timely and will
help to keep and maintain the image and the distinct identity
of the Indian monuments and to reinforce the dominant position
of India as the main supplier of highest quality of granite monuments
in the world market.
This Exhibition is
co-sponsored by CAPEXIL and other State Governments and will be
visited by over hundred overseas visitors including participants.
It will give a boost to the local industry and help it to upgrade
itself besides getting fresh orders, offer opportunities for buyers
and sellers of monuments, machinery’s accessories, tools and handling
equipment etc., as also to display their wares and skills. The
Fair is product-focussed on the needs and offerings of the monument
industry at Chennai Trade centre, which is the largest and the
most prestigious Modern Trade Fair Complex in Southern India with
well over 7000 square meter of air-conditioned covered space and
15,000 square meter of outside space.
The Chief Minister
of Tamil Nadu is expected to inaugurate the Indian Monument Stone
Fair. Shri Arun Shourie, Minister for Disinvestment and Commerce
& Industry, is scheduled to visit the Fair and address at
the valedictory session.
