Inaugurated by the Chief Guest and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel, the 14th Convention India Conclave (CIC), ICPB’s flagship annual event, kickstarted at Mahatma Mandir Convention & Exhibition Center, Gujarat’s showcase event venue located in Gandhinagar
Strategic promotion of state-of-the-art facilities and enhanced connectivity can position India as a prominent hub for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) sector, propelling India to global MICE centerstage. The inaugural function of the 14th CIC, themed ‘Sustainable MICE: Empowering Events towards 5 trillion Economy’, kickstarted with a resounding message of leveraging the global MICE opportunity towards achieving country’s economic and growth aspirations. The event put MICE opportunity and it’s potential at the heart of the function offering tremendous arguments on the merits and necessity of growing MICE tourism in the country.
Speaking on the occasion, ICPB Vice Chairman, Amaresh Tiwari, said, “As our honourable Prime Minister said, MICE has potential to create huge infrastructure and growth in the tourism sector. MICE industry was expected to be upward of US $800 Billion globally. India’s share was expected to be around less than just 1 percent. MICE sector is said to have the strongest and direct contribution to GDP than any other tourism sector. Each 100 Rupees spent in India can make an indirect impact of 160 Rupees. In the MICE sector, economic output globally is estimated at US $1 trillion or more. Thus we, between our all states and the center, must double our MICE share to 2.5 percent of the world share. We must target more than 1,00,000 crore in direct economic and 1,60,000 crore in indirect benefit to all our states.”
Furthermore, Tiwari lamented that as of now, India is only represented with one city in the top 100 city ranking of ICCA. He said that India must set a goal to have 10 cities in the top 100 city ranking brought out by ICCA for the largescale events such as congresses and convention. Furthermore, Tiwari, insisted that at least one or two Indian cities must also find place among the top 10 city destinations of ICCA ranking. The ICPB Vice Chairman argued that in order to achieve the desired result, “we must all work together between center and the states government and the stakeholders, benchmark our MICE infrastructure, up our cities as top global MICE cities. We must recognize MICE tourism as a distinct business and industry segment.”
Key dignitaries in attendance were Mulubhai Bera, Hon’ble Minister of Tourism, Cultural Activities, Forest & Environment and Climate Change, Govt of Gujarat as Guest of Honour; Rakesh Kumar Verma, IAS, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India & Chairman-ICPB; Hareet Shukla, IAS- Secretary, Gujrat Tourism, Govt of Gujarat; Amaresh Tiwari – Vice chairman, ICPB and Chairman – Convention India Conclave-2023, among others.
Madhu Dubey, ED, ICPB welcomed delegates, followed by announcement of ICPB State Chapter and ‘Meet in Gujarat’. During the event, the dignitaries brought to light the ICPB MICE Manual and the several signings of MOUs with Gujarat Tourism.
The guests also witnessed the launch of Gujarat MICE film, and also a spectacular screening of Incredible India – MICE film. The glittering event concluded with the vibrant energy of cultural dance performances of local artists, hosted by the Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Ltd.
