The Vigo Trade Fair Centre, IFEVI, was the venue chosen by the Spanish Trade Fair Association for the celebration of the 4th edition of the Spanish Trade Fair Congress.
Under the slogan "Trade fair management in the 21st century", experts from Italy, Great Britain, Germany and Spain presented the most innovative trends in the trade fair industry internationally.
The professionals in attendance praised the Congress, highlighting the relevance of its content and the quality of the speakers. These included Francesca Golfetto, professor at Bocconi University in Milan; Andrew Shanks, Director of Development for Europe at Reed Exhibitions Company; Michael Von Zitzewitz, CEO of Messe Frankfurt and President of EMECA; Alfredo Bonet, Director General of Promotion at ICEX; and Juan Soriano, representative of the ASCER Group.
The conclusions could be summarized as the growing privatization of trade fair management, independent of the public ownership of the fairgrounds, and the need to internationalize Spanish trade fairs.
During the Congress, Juan Garaiyurrebaso, president of the AFE (Spanish Association of Trade Fair Owners) and director of the Bilbao International Fair, after concluding the audit of trade fair statistics for 2002, reported the results. The number of events held was 419, representing a 6,6% increase over the previous year, occupying a net exhibition area of 3.956.532 m², 10,56% more than in 2001. The number of exhibitors grew by 8,64% to 114.646, while the number of visitors reached 15.379.986, a 5,74% increase.
Any questions about this news?
Talk to Coexia, the AI of the foreign trade
