Last year, Conxemar welcomed over 35.000 professionals from more than 80 countries.
Vigo will open its doors, from October 2nd to 4th, to the most representative offer in frozen seafood products, as it will celebrate the ninth edition of the International Fair of the sector, Conxemar 2007, in which some 650 exhibitors will participate (11% more than the previous year), distributed throughout the 13.000 m2 of exhibition space.
Regarding the limited space at the Vigo trade fair grounds, José Luis Freire, president of Conxemar, stated at the press conference presenting the fair that "we cannot miss the opportunity to gain more space at IFEVI to continue Conxemar's growth." He explained that the organization has already requested an expansion from the various government bodies.
Since its inception in 1999, the International Frozen Seafood Products Fair has experienced continuous growth. Its first edition featured 85 stands and attracted 5.800 visitors, figures that have been surpassed year after year, reaching an increase of nearly 600% in 2006. At that time, some 430 Spanish companies and more than 150 international companies actively participated. The international character of the event was further strengthened in the latest edition, which drew over 35.000 professionals from 87 countries.
International profile
The organization's efforts for Conxemar 2007 have been directed towards reinforcing the event's international standing, hoping to consolidate the business volume - last year it was estimated at around 1.000 billion euros - and break visitor records again.
Companies and organizations from over thirty countries will gather in Vigo. Newcomers such as Bangladesh, Liechtenstein, Singapore, and Tunisia are attending for the first time, while regular participants include Germany, Argentina, Belgium, Canada, China, Colombia, Denmark, Ecuador, the USA, Estonia, France, Greece, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Lithuania, Mauritania, Mexico, Monaco, Nigeria, Norway, Peru, Portugal, the United Kingdom, Russia, Senegal, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, and Spain, which will be represented by more than 470 exhibitors. The number of international stands continues to grow, exceeding 170.
Regarding the organizations and associations that will be present at Conxemar this year, there will be around 30, both national and international. New to this year's Spanish contingent are the Port Authority of Vigo and the Catalan Export Promotion Agency (PRODECA). In the area of international organizations, which has grown by 18% compared to 2006, the Lotaçor-Azores Association, the Trade Council of Iceland, and the Dutch Fish Marketing Board are attending for the first time.
In addition to professionals from the frozen fish processing and marketing sector, and as in previous editions, auxiliary industries will also be present. Visitors will once again find a dedicated area for machinery, where the main manufacturers related to the fishing industry will be represented. Over the past eight years, Conxemar has become a key meeting point for organizations and companies in the sector.
During the fair, several conferences will take place, including "Comprehensive Control of Traceability, Authenticity, and Safety of Fish Products," presented by the Vigo-based company Teaxul; "Added Value to Fish by Applying the Latest 5th Range Technologies: Cooked Dishes, Heat and Eat," presented by Ilpra Systems Spain; and "Flexible Packaging for Fish and Seafood," presented by Enplater.
Within the framework of the "International Business Meeting," and with the support of FROM and the Chambers of Commerce of Vigo and Pontevedra, Eurofish is organizing a seminar on "The Expansion of Fish Markets in Central and Eastern Europe" at the Astron Consultores stand. The CETMAR Marine Technology Center will present the conference "Towards Sustainable Exploitation of the Sea: New Opportunities for the Use and Valorization of Waste and Discards," as part of the BE-FAIR project of the LIFE Programme.
In the words of José Luis Freire, "as a specialized trade fair for frozen fish, it is the first of its kind in the world." Abel Caballero, the mayor of Vigo, took advantage of the presentation to emphasize that "it is the most important commercial event in Vigo and Galicia, and one of the most important at the national level." He also stressed the sector's importance to the local economy, highlighting that "a large part of Vigo's economy is based on fishing." Furthermore, he reaffirmed the commitment made to Conxemar to provide IFEVI with new infrastructure.
Conxemar's objectives
Conxemar is the National Association of Wholesalers, Processors, Importers, and Exporters of Fish and Aquaculture Products, headquartered in Vigo. It currently comprises 282 member companies, with a total annual turnover of €7.844.637.266 and employing 21.720 people. Conxemar's member companies represent approximately 70% of the frozen seafood sector in Spain.
The National Association of Wholesalers, Processors, Importers and Exporters of Fish and Aquaculture Products is consolidated as a fundamental instrument of union in the frozen sector in our country.
Conxemar, in addition to organizing the International Frozen Seafood Products Fair, a global benchmark since 1999, has recently been promoting the organization of international seminars and conferences. Just last May, the Association brought together around one hundred nutritionists, food experts, and industry professionals at the "Fish and Health Today" Congress at the Teatro Real in Madrid. The objective of this meeting, which featured the participation of renowned Harvard School of Public Health professor Eric Rimm, was to highlight the nutritional benefits of fish from a scientific perspective. Following this line of thought, on November 16th, Conxemar will organize the "Analysis of European Ports" Congress at the Vigo Financial Club, with the participation of representatives from the ports of Rotterdam, Bremerhaven, and Boulogne-sur-Mer.
Conxemar's primary objective is to represent and defend the interests of its members, in particular, and the sector, in general, both nationally and at the European level, where the association participates with its own voice as a member of the Spanish Fisheries Advisory Committee; it is also a member of CEP (European Fish Traders). Among its main aims are fostering a free market economy; promoting business development; maintaining relationships with related business organizations; and representing the sector before public and private bodies, among others.
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