Poznan in pole position

Superlatives are not in short supply: Poland's strongest organiser with the biggest site wants to stay ahead. That's why the trade fair company has big plans.

Poznan International Fairs PIF, Poland's fair organiser with most events in its programme would like to continue to dominate the country's exhibition scene: "Our share of the domestic exhibition market is 50 %. Over 60 % of all foreign exhibitors in Poland take part in tradeshows in Poznan", says Boguslaw Zalewski, trade fair boss and president of the organisation to which Poznan trade fair organiser, Kielce Trade Fairs, Biznes-Innowacje-Technologie and the World Trade Centre Poznan also belong. To maintain its top position, he lets it be known, the company has a 180-ha site close to the city that it could equip with infrastructure: "Here we could set up a modern exhibition centre", says Zalewski and adds that an architect's competition is already underway entitled "Tradeshows of the Future".
"It is also our strategic objective to organise tradeshows that are important for Europe, but mainly for Poland." Whereas we had around twelve sectors to service five years ago, exhibitors are already stating 50 sectors for which they would like to see a trade exhibition. That was the result of a survey by an independent market research institute commissioned by the Polish Trade Fair Corporation. Poznan International Fairs PIF already organises about 40 trade fairs and exhibitions each year - including some events of supraregional or international interest or with a clear specialist orientation such as Tagropack - international trade exhibition for packaging and logistics, or Poligrafia - international trade fair for polygraphic machines, materials and services.
The largest exhibition centre in Poland with 110,000 m2 of exhibition space spread over 14 pavilions, also claims to organise the largest trade fairs in the country.
The company with 85 years of exhibition organising experience that welcomes around 350,000 visitors a year, sees its main advantage for exhibitors from abroad in its attractive offers: "For example, at the Budma, the most important building tradeshow in Poland and one of the most important of its type in central and eastern Europe, we offer a price per square meter of 90 - hardly a comparison with western prices", says Zalewski. The all-in package for exhibitors "Trade Fair Plus" includes not only an entry in the online catalogue, guaranteed presence of trade reporters from various print media and editors and camera teams from the Polish business channel ZV Biznes and provision of a tool for companies to calculate the benefit they get from trade fairs. Matchmaking and opportunities for networking in connection with the World Trade Centre have often brought exhibitors and visitors together for interesting business contacts. For innovations, a special presentation framework is always provided. Informative accompanying programmes, for example, for training, round off many events at Poznan.

m+a report Nr.6 / 2005 vom 23.09.2005
m+a report vom 23. September 2005