The Shopping Centres Association of India (SCAI), a NPO (non-profit organisation) has been set up with the vision to engage in, and encourage, the development of the shopping centre industry in India, by equipping it with the requisite knowledge base and operational skills, to enable it to assume its rightful place in the society, the economy, and the world. SCAI will aim to play an anchor’s role in the evolution of the Indian shopping centre industry and to consolidate the entity of the individual shopping centre, helping it merge into the larger society as an institution of importance.This will be achieved by:

• Developing the distinct function of the shopping centre towards marketing of consumer goods and services
• Building up — and inspiring — a body of focused research into the architecture, aesthetic and design aspects of shopping centres
• Encouraging the development and spread of sophisticated management paradigms and maintenance methods
• Being a knowledge resource centre that collects, analyses and disseminates information on techniques of profitable operation

Delving into macro economic, legislative and marketing factors with a bearing on the shopping centre industry and Guiding members to come on their own as credible, responsible and forward-thinking stewards in the arena of shopping centre development and management.

This attempt by SCAI to bridge the gap between the Indian shopping centre industry and the retail industry, and create important linkages between the two will be brought about through:

• Creating a research cell that will support design, centre management, marketing and promotion, and thereby create or redefine the rules of the industry
• Developing new managing parameters for creating profitable operations from the experienced institutions, which will support upcoming (individual) centres and the industry
• Working towards marketing and promotional activities affecting the shopping centre industry and guiding it towards creating new techniques for growth