On April 8, Peter Altmaier, German Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy; Dr Markus Söder, Bavarian Minister President; and Klaus Dittrich, Messe München CEO, opened the world’s leading trade fair for construction machinery, building material machines, mining machines, construction vehicles and construction equipment – bauma 2019. Peter Altmaier, German Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy, saluted bauma, saying: “This trade fair is a showcase for Germany.” In an address, the minister also touched on the extremely tight housing market facing the country. The construction machinery industry that is showcasing its products over the next seven days will play a key role in this effort, Altmaier said. Dr Markus Söder, Bavarian Minister President, shared Altmaier’s enthusiasm: “bauma is the world’s largest trade fair. Highly innovative and gigantic construction machines from all parts of the world demonstrate the progress that has been achieved by the construction industry. The latest machines are even all-electric and emission-free. The construction industry is the indicator of our economic strength.”The world’s largest trade fair is breaking every record again this year. Klaus Dittrich, Chairman and CEO of Messe München, said: “With 614,000 sq m of space, bauma has grown once again this year. A total of 3,700 exhibitors from about 60 countries are showing their innovations here in Munich. Our visitors have come from more than 200 countries.”While visitors can marvel at the gigantic crawler cranes, hydraulic excavators, mining vehicles and much more through April 14, stay tuned to updates that CONSTRUCTION WORLD is reporting live from bauma Munich!               Damien Giraud, Vice President, Caterpillar Inc, addressing global press at bauma 2019 in Munich. Further, Ramin Younessi, President, Construction Industries, Caterpillar, in a response to a question from CONSTRUCTION WORLD and EQUIPMENT INDIA assured that Caterpillar India was on track to enjoy the growth that India is offering and his recent trip to India indicated that new products are on the anvil. Marketing and branding in full swing at bauma Munich!Marketing and branding in full swing at bauma Munich! Marketing and branding in full swing at bauma Munich! High, higher, highest... Global equipment sales in 2018 reaching for the skies! (L-R): Pratap Padode, Editor-in-Chief, CONSTRUCTION WORLD, with Sandeep Singh, Managing Director, Tata Hitachi and Rajesh Nath, Managing Director, VDMA, at bauma. (Right) Pratap Padode, Editor-in-Chief, CONSTRUCTION WORLD, with Ramesh Palagiri, Managing Director, Wirtgen India, at the sprawling 12,000 sq m booth displaying new Wirtgen products and John Deere at bauma Munich 2019.