MAM
Messe Frankfurt Trade Fairs partners Business Broadcast News
NEW DELHI: Messe Frankfurt Trade Fairs India and Business Broadcast News have formed a strategic partnership to introduce a series of trade shows in the Indian market.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two is aimed at developing exhibitions in India around various themes including but not limited to infrastructure development, power and energy as well as telecommunications. The two companies are expected to synergise to deliver innovative offerings in the Indian market.
Reliance Broadcast Network, which is part of the Reliance Group of India and is associated with Business Broadcast News, owns and manages a portfolio of media vehicles across India that covers everything from radio and television to print and digital media.
The MOU was signed by Raj Manek, Managing Director of Messe Frankfurt Trade Fairs India, and Sriram Kilambi, President of Business Broadcast News, in Mumbai. Messe Frankfurt, through its own initiatives and experience, has already established a series of shows within India, including Light India, ACMA Automechanika and Techtextil India. These fairs have become highly-recognised staples in Messe Frankfurt’s global portfolio, which includes more than 100 exhibitions annually worldwide.
Speaking at the ceremony, Manek noted: “Messe Frankfurt has received great success and recognition so far with the three shows we have in India. But in order to continue on the growth path, and tap emerging opportunities in the country, it is imperative that we form strong alliances with strategic partners where we complement each other’s strengths. To date we have received fantastic support from government departments and industry associations, and believe this will now only increase and further enhance after our tie-up with an experienced powerhouse Business Broadcast News, which will enable us to reach these new sectors in India and install both the heritage and proven professionalism of the Messe Frankfurt brand within this market. We very much look forward to working with our new partners, and I believe our firms will benefit greatly from this cooperation.”
“We entered this new partnership because we truly believe that Messe Frankfurt is committed to the India market. They offer professional platforms which have been proven again and again to be effective, informative and well-rounded. Our goal is to present Messe Frankfurt a better understanding of key growth areas in India’s economy and ultimately work together to conceptualise and ideally position our joint exhibitions as the leading events within the chosen sectors. Through our extensive network of media channels and products, as well as our knowledge of the Indian business needs, Business Broadcast News plans to grow our influence in the Indian exhibition industry,” said Kilambi.
Brands
Abhinav Rastogi named global marketing director for YouTube Shopping
Google veteran to scale creator commerce and expand shopping across global markets
SINGAPORE: Abhinav Rastogi has stepped into a new role as global marketing director for YouTube Shopping, marking the latest chapter in a more than decade-long career at Google.
Rastogi, who took on the position in February and is based in Singapore, will lead global marketing for YouTube Shopping, a platform designed to connect creators, viewers and merchants in a single ecosystem. His remit includes expanding the service into new markets and strengthening its positioning as a growth channel for both creators and brands.
In a reflective note on the transition, Rastogi pointed to a simple but powerful idea driving the role. For years, creators have quietly built trust with audiences through consistent and authentic content, and that trust often shapes purchasing decisions. What is changing now, he said, is the infrastructure around that behaviour. YouTube Shopping aims to make it easier for viewers to discover and buy products recommended by creators they already follow.
The scale is already significant. More than half a million creators have joined the programme, with recent expansion into Japan through a partnership with Rakuten signalling further global ambitions.
Rastogi believes the future of shopping on YouTube will be driven by a blend of creators, content and communities. In his view, it is the human voice behind the screen, not just the product, that ultimately builds trust and drives discovery.
Prior to this role, he served as director of marketing, YouTube Asia Pacific, where he led regional marketing across creator engagement, brand building and reputation. During that time, he played a key role in launching and scaling YouTube Shopping across eight markets in the region.
Earlier stints at Google include group product marketing manager, consumer apps, overseeing growth for products such as Search, Maps and Assistant across India and Southeast Asia, and product marketing manager roles spanning consumer apps and YouTube, where he contributed to launches including YouTube Music, YouTube Originals and YouTube Shorts.
Rastogi began his career in consulting with Boston Consulting Group and A.T. Kearney, before moving into the technology sector. He is an alumnus of Indian Institute of Management Calcutta and Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur.
Alongside his corporate role, he is also an active angel investor, backing early-stage startups in consumer technology and electric mobility across India and Southeast Asia.
As he settles into the new role, Rastogi is betting on a future where every video can double up as a storefront, and where commerce feels less like a transaction and more like a recommendation from a trusted voice.
