Ifema, “A fair is a reflection of what is happening in the economy”

Interview with Santiago Quiroga, director of International Expansion of IFEMA

It was in 1980 when IFEMA was created as a non-profit entity with the aim of promoting the economic development of Madrid and at the same time creating a platform that serves as a contact for supply and demand in the exhibition field.

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 Included in the Madridonbusiness report. Rest of interviews in Madridonbusiness

 

 

 

 

 

Being one of the most important elements in the economic dynamization of the Madrid economy, IFEMA annually invoices about 2.000 million euros per year, which represents 1,5% of the GDP, generating about 50.000 direct and indirect jobs.

 

 

Like any international operator, Feria de Madrid practically covers all sectors of the economy. We have interviewed director of International Expansion of IFEMA, Santiago Quiroga, which explained to us that “IFEMA "It is not only an operator that creates fairs and puts them into operation, but we are managers of the Juan Carlos I fair park since we host other fairs in Madrid made by private operators."

 

The manager stressed the importance of the fair's internationality, “fairs cannot be local or national, we must increase the number of international visitors and buyers. This means that the fairs are getting bigger.” At this time, the internationalization of IFEMA extends to Latin America and China.

 

Tourism is our star sector and Fitur is proof of this every year, “but Madrid is currently a place of business generation, which is why both industrial and consumer fairs have marked their high points at IFEMA in different years, such as regarding the development of the sectors,” Quiroga highlights.

 

The possibility of creating new fairs always exists, “a fair is nothing more than a reflection of what is happening in society and the economy. IFEMA takes a step forward and no longer only organizes fairs with economic but also social components. In an increasingly changing world there are thousands of opportunities to create new events.”