Informa Markets in India, a leading B2B exhibition organiser, convened an exclusive roundtable of industry leaders in Pune, setting the stage for the 12th edition of World of Concrete (WoC) India 2026. The landmark exhibition and conference, dedicated to advancing concrete technology, materials, and innovation, will take place from 3rd to 5th June 2026 at the Bombay Exhibition Centre (BEC), Mumbai.
As India’s only dedicated concrete-focused exhibition, WoC India uniquely brings together the entire value chain from raw materials and precast technologies to construction equipment, chemicals, and digital solutions offering a highly specialised B2B platform distinct from broader construction expos.
The 2026 edition is expected to feature over 350+ brands and attract more than 18,000 industry professionals. With strong domestic and international participation, including dedicated European and Chinese, Start-Up and Precast pavilions, the show continues to strengthen its global footprint.
he Pune roundtable witnessed participation from key regional stakeholders and industry experts, including senior leadership from Informa Markets in India. The discussion surfaced critical insights on Western India’s infrastructure growth, emerging material innovations, and the increasing urgency of sustainable construction practices.
The roundtable discussion featured leading voices from the construction, concrete, architecture, industrial flooring, construction chemicals and market intelligence sectors, including Manoj Deshmukh, State Secretary, Builders Association of India (BAI), Pune Centre; Mahesh Bangad, Chairman, Architects Engineers & Surveyors Association (AESA) EC / EC, Ajay Singam, President, Industrial Flooring Association (IFA) & Managing Director, Avcon Technics; Suyog Keluskar, Senior Director, IGS, 1Lattice; Jaswanth Sobhana, Director-Target Market & Product Management, Sika India; Appasaheb D. Bhosle, General Manager-Engg. Div., B. G. Shirke Construction Technology, and Rajneesh Khattar, Senior Group Director, Informa Markets in India.
Together, they deliberated on the evolving needs of India’s construction sector, with a focus on technology adoption, mechanisation, sustainable building practices, skilled manpower, durability of infrastructure and the role of industry platforms in enabling practical, future-ready solutions.
Highlighting the need for stronger industry-government collaboration to address key challenges around cost, skilling, and technology adoption,Manoj Deshmukh, State Secretary, Builders Association of India (BAI), Pune, said, “India’s contracting fraternity is at the receiving end, facing multiple challenges, from technology adoption, adaptation and rising costs to labour-related changes, skill gaps in technical manpower and payment delays. While we have evolved from contractors to constructors, the sector continues to depend heavily on human-intensive execution, and this makes skilling, statutory recognition of engineers and stronger industry-government dialogue critical. Despite these challenges, Indian constructors have consistently delivered complex projects with local manpower, meeting timelines and cost expectations. Platforms like World of Concrete India are important as they bring the industry together to discuss practical solutions, encourage technology adoption, and address key issues such as optimal use of resources, including water in construction.”
Emphasising the role of advanced construction chemicals, rehabilitation solutions and digital tools in improving the durability of India’s infrastructure, Jaswanth Sobhana, Director – Target Market & Product Management, Sika India, said, “Ageing buildings and infrastructure assets in India need new-age repair and rehabilitation materials that go beyond conventional solutions. Sika is already associated with strengthening projects for important structures in Delhi, as well as bridge assessment and repair initiatives for agencies such as NHAI and Indian Railways, helping extend asset life and reduce the need for demolition and reconstruction. Durability is now becoming a key design criterion, and if structures can be built for a life of 100 years or more, it is far more sustainable than rebuilding every 20–30 years. India’s construction chemical industry is around ₹25,000 crore, but remains fragmented and largely unorganised. As a global leader, Sika continues to focus on innovation, sustainability and digitalisation, including AI-enabled tools for concrete mix design, sand grading and curing guidance. Platforms like World of Concrete India help bring these technologies closer to industry stakeholders and support better quality, performance-based construction practices.”
Commenting on the strong construction momentum in India, particularly across western India and emerging tier 2 and tier 3 cities, Keluskar said, “India’s construction sector is witnessing strong growth, with cement production expected to be around 490 million tonnes in FY26, registering year-on-year growth of nearly 8–9%. The government’s record capital expenditure allocation of ₹12.2 lakh crore in the Union Budget 2026–27 is further driving development across highways, railways, logistics and regional infrastructure. Initiatives such as PMAY Urban 2.0, which aims to create 1 crore new homes, and the development of city economic regions are shifting growth beyond tier 1 cities. Western India, especially Mumbai and Pune, continues to be a key growth region, with Pune also seeing significant momentum in high-rise and urban construction. With 55–70% blended cement usage, India is also moving towards more sustainable construction practices. As tier 2 and tier 3 cities become the next growth epicentres, concrete, construction chemicals and new-age technologies will play a critical role in building durable, sustainable and climate-resilient infrastructure.”
