The Spanish Trade Fair Association – AFE, begins a new stage

The Association aims to give greater visibility and recognition to the Spanish trade fair sector.

At the last meeting of its Board of Directors, it appointed a new Secretary General.

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La AFE, a non-profit entity, which brings together the main organizers and fairgrounds of Spain, at the proposal of President of the same, Xabier Basañez, has appointed a new Secretary General, to represent the Association and handle the tasks inherent to the position, during the meeting of its Board of Directors, held on March 3. Juan Puchalt replaces María José Uceda, who has assumed these functions for the last nine years.

 

Puchalt He holds a PhD in Economics and Business Administration from the Universidad de Valencia and has extensive experience in the sector, having been part of the management team of one of its members, Feria Valencia, for 26 years, and has also collaborated with the Fira de BarcelonaIn recent years he has worked as a consultant and is also a professor at the business school ESIC Business & Marketing School.

 

With the incorporation of the new Secretary General, the AFE aims, among other goals, to provide the Spanish sector with greater visibility and public recognition, as well as to claim the importance of trade fair activity as a fundamental instrument of marketing for companies and as a wealth-generating element for cities where fairs, congresses and similar celebrations are held, that is, what is known as event and business tourism or tourism MICE, for its acronym in English. Another objective is to integrate into the association some stakeholders in the trade fair industry who are not yet members, contribute to optimizing the management and quality of the services provided by its members, exchange information and experiences among its representatives, promote the internationalization of trade fair activities, strengthen institutional relations, and represent the interests of its members before the Administration.

 

 

With the addition of the new Secretary General, the AFE aims, among other things, to provide the Spanish sector with greater visibility and public recognition, as well as to assert the importance of trade fair activity as a fundamental marketing tool for companies.

 

 

The Board of Directors has expressed its gratitude to María José Uceda, for his dedication during these years representing the AFE, in which many difficulties have had to be faced due to the economic crisis, which has affected multiple sectors.

 

As notable milestones this year, the AFE will actively participate in May in the events of the centenary of the Valencia Fair Institution and, on the other hand, will celebrate simultaneously in June, in Gran Canaria, at the headquarters of INFECT, the Canary Islands Trade Fair Institution, the joint congresses of AFE, AFIDA, International Association of Fairs of America, from UNIFIB, Union of Ibero-American Fairs, and the so-called Latin American Chapter of the UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry.

 

La Association of Spanish Fairs It was established in 1964 and currently has 19 members, including two collaborating members, whose activity is estimated to jointly account for 80 percent of the national total.

 

Pending the release of statistics for the last fiscal year, 2016, whose data are currently being audited, as is usual at this time of year, it is expected that the nearly 300 fairs held will have brought together around 30.000 direct exhibitors, with an occupation of 2 million square metres and 5 million visitors. The annual economic impact of the activity attributed to the current members of the AFE It is estimated at a figure exceeding 3.500 billion euros, not including transactions made by exhibitors and visitors as a result of their presence at the fairs.