subscribe to news Shareholder meeting: Expocentre succeeded in developing trade shows

The annual general shareholder meeting of Expocentre AO took place on April 11, 2018. It was moderated by Sergey Katyrin, Chairman of the Expocentre Board of Directors and President of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.   

General Director of Expocentre Sergey Bednov made a report on the results of 2017. He said that though external factors played a significant role, the company never slowed down, upgraded quality of exhibitions, strengthened old partnerships and established new ones, introduced new services, and brought to life new projects.   

In comparison to 2016, the total area of exhibitions managed by Expocentre grew by 24%, and the number of their participants by 18%. The area occupied by exhibitors from Russian regions grew by 14%, the number of regional participants by 12%.

In 2017 Expocentre Fairgrounds hosted 114 trade shows: 31 brands of Expocentre and 83 shows of other organizers. Their total area was close to 560,000 net sq m. They welcomed about 29,000 exhibitors from 111 countries. The share of Expocentre in the Russian exhibition market made up about 17% (occupied space) and 13% (number of exhibitors).  

Mr. Bednov highlighted that Expocentre's trade shows are in high demand among businessmen. These events are respected by both professional and exhibition communities. Expocentre's 15 exhibitions are in the list of events of the Russian National Exhibition Rating of 2016-2017: 13 of them are named the Best Exhibition in Russia. Moreover, today 26 exhibitions bear the logo of the Russian Union of Exhibitions and Fairs (RUEF), and 25 the label of approval of the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI), which confirms their adherence to high international standards.  

According to Sergey Bednov, Expocentre's major exhibitions, which once again showed growth and confirmed their importance for the economy, business and public, were Prodexpo (food and beverages), Agroprodmash (food production), Metalloobrabotka (metalworking), Elektro (electrical industry), Mebel (furniture), Russian Health Care Week, Photonics. World of Lasers and Optics, Khimia (chemistry), and some others.

Expocentre expanded its work with manufacturers from various Russian regions. A new company unit was established: a department for work with regions. The number of Russian exhibitors grew significantly. At the same time, the share of foreign participants stayed the same reaching about 30-50%.

The number of trade shows held by Expocentre also grows. The first edition of the MedTravelExpo. Medical Clinics. Health and Spa Resorts exhibition was held in 2017. In 2019 the company expects to launch one more new show: the RosBuild International Exhibition for Building and Finishing Materials and Technologies.

All own exhibitions of Expocentre are accompanied by a unique project, one of a kind in Russia: Expocentre for Counterfeit-Free Exhibitions. It is aimed at minimizing counterfeit products showcased at exhibitions through providing consultations and clarifications regarding intellectual property, and rendering assistance in solving conflicts connected with violations of exclusive rights.

Last year Expocentre also expanded its foreign activities, i.e. managing Russian pavilions and group stands at foreign trade shows. In close cooperation the Russian Export Center and the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade, Expocentre arranged participation of Russian companies in 11 international trade shows in China, Cuba, Germany, Kazakhstan, Portugal, Spain, the UAE, and other countries, in 2017.  

One more important area of the company's activities is organization of conventions and similar events. In 2017 Expocentre Fairgrounds hosted 903 conventions and stand-alone events of various formats. It is by 23% more than in 2016. These events included a series of major national and international trade shows for oil and gas, mining, textile, telecom, navigation, banking, education and fashion industries.  

"We will continue making trade shows of high quality, external factors notwithstanding," concluded the general director. 

The general meeting approved the results of 2017 and a new board of directors and an executive board of the company.

Press Service, Expocentre AO