LIMA's main objective in India will be to work together with licensors and licensees for the advancement of professionalism in licensing through research, national and international seminars, trade events and publications.

Mr Kelvyn Gardner, Managing Director, LIMA who will be on his maiden visit to India, told PTI in an exclusive interview, "Licensing industry worldwide is estimated at $187 billion. The potential for India to be benefited harness from the Licensing industry is huge. That is the reason we decided to come to India through the Brand Licensing India conference, which will be a great platform to kickstart LIMA's India chapter."

"LIMA is dedicated to the growth of licensing worldwide. This new conference can greatly aid growth in India", said Mr Gardner.

Also commenting on LIMA's entry in India, Mr Gaurav Marya, organizer of the Brand Licensing India Conference, and President, Franchise India Holdings Ltd., said, "Brand Licensing is a very new and upcoming business domain in India. Though the concept of Licensing is still at a nascent stage, it is fast gaining acceptability with every international brand catering to India through licensing and will reach to its maximum level in the coming years. The emergence of modern and more organized retail in India, estimated at US$ 200 billion, projected to grow at 5% per annum and has set the pace for new collaborations between International Licensing companies and Indian business houses." It has been estimated that market size for character and non-character licensed products in organized retail would be in the region of $3.5 billion and there is a general consensus that the industry is likely to grow by 15-20% annually.

LIMA has been supporting events like the annual Licensing International Expo, Brand Licensing Europe, LiMa Licensing Market (Munich), Day of Licensing (Cologne), Licensing Asia (Tokyo), Shanghai Licensing Pavilion and the Hong Kong Licensing Show. In addition, LIMA offers ways to jump start a career in licensing: the Certificate in Licensing Studies (CLS) program which is the only educational course specifically designed to prepare professionals to succeed in the ever-changing licensing industry, and flip, a subset of LIMA offering support and networking for the Future LIMA Industry Professionals.

About LIMA

Founded in 1985, LIMA represents the interests of over 1000 members worldwide, and provides a forum for networking, serving as a source of education and information, establishing standards of ethical and professional conduct, and recognizing excellence and achievement in the industry. With offices in New York, London, Munich, Tokyo and Shanghai, members enjoy access to a wide variety of activities, information and benefits.

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