ANN ARBOR, MI - The Automation Technologies Council (ATC) and its trade groups, the Automated Imaging Association (AIA), the Robotic Industries Association (RIA) and the Motion Control Association (MCA) will host a mission to India to help our members become familiar with the Indian market, make connections and learn how to do business there.

India is poised to become a large market for automation technologies. The Indian economy has been growing at an average growth rate of about 8.6% over the last three years. According to a study by Goldman Sachs, the Indian economy is expected to continue growing at the rate of 5% or more till 2050, becoming the fourth largest economy in the world by then. Manufacturing is the backbone of the economy, and India has the potential to become a manufacturing hub for textiles, automobiles, steel, metals and petroleum products for the world market. It is already a premier global manufacturing center for a number of multi national corporations such as General Motors, Ford, Suzuki, Hyundai, and Coca Cola.

In addition to planned meetings with Indian business leaders, the mission is scheduled in order to attend the biennial Automation 2008 show at the Bombay Exhibition Center in Mumbai (September 25 - 28, 2008). In 2006 the show featured 422 exhibitors and attracted 34,569 visitors. ATC will investigate future exhibiting opportunities, including pavilion options for our members.

For details on the ATC Mission to India and how you can participate (registration deadline is August 15, 2008), contact ATC Headquarters at (734) 994-6088.