Games will generate $4,940 million: PwC

The Commonwealth Games in Delhi is expected to rake in more money that the previous editions held in Manchester and Melbourne, says a study by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) India. In fact, while the athletes compete at the venues across the city, business delegations from 54 countries will be engaged in talks and deliberations during the during the Games fortnight. 
While the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games generated business worth $3,400 million, the next edition in Melbourne could make just a modest $1,600 million. But Delhi is expected to break all records and earn $4,940 million, says a PricewaterhouseCoopers India study done for the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee. The Games will also generate a total of 2.47 million jobs, great news as most countries are just crawling out of the economic slowdown.

Although, the Delhi Police had raised questions over holding business meets during the games fortnight, the Organising Committee insists that it will go ahead as they are a part of the Games calendar and cannot be put off. The Committee is now trying to rope in Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to address during the inaugural business session.

“It will be a unique opportunity for the business delegation from across the world to interact. More over, the world wants to know more about the Indian economy, which has remained strong even during the recession,” said T S Darbari, joint director Organising Committee, who also heads the Business Club of India. 

The business meets will concentrate on key issues like green manufacturing and water technologies, luxury goods, infrastructure, medical tourism, oil, gas, energy and power. In the run up to the event, roadshows will be organised in Kolkata, Hyderabad and Chennai in August and Mumbai in September.

Business schedule

October 7 Green Manufacturing and Water Technologies, Luxury Goods Forum 

October 8 Infrastructure Conclave with session on energy, power, oil and gas October 11 Tourism Conclave

October 12 Conference on Education, IT and skills

October 13 Cuisine and Commerce, Food safety and Nutrition