Fira de Barcelona
| 2014 Report
ß
Generating
opportunities for
companies and
professionals.
à
Shows that are leaders.
This is the case
of the Smart City Expo
World Congress in the
field of smart cities and
EIBTM in the business
tourism industry.
International policy
Internationalisation continues as one of the key
pillars of the Fira de Barcelona strategy.
This means, firstly, reinforcing and increasing
the international nature of the shows directly
organised by Fira de Barcelona, attracting
exhibitors and visitors from abroad and
generating opportunities for companies and
professionals and, secondly, attracting major
international events. These, as we have
mentioned, generate considerable revenue and
economic activity in the territory, as well as
commercial and professional exchanges.
In 2014, 53% of exhibitors and 40% of
visitors at professional shows staged at Fira
de Barcelona venues were foreign, and the
organisation has delegations that ensure
representation in more than 40 countries.
A highly specific aspect of internationalisation
is the presence of Fira de Barcelona abroad. This
helps to project Catalan and Spanish companies
and to benefit from the organisation’s experience
and know-how by providing consultancy
services and establishing partnership.
In 2014, Alimentaria Mexico took place once
more, as did the aforementioned Smart City Expo
World Congress in Kyoto, whilst Construmat took
part in the construction show Ficons de Recife
(Brazil) and agreements were also signed for
Smart City Expo to take place in Puebla (Mexico)
in 2016 and for cooperation with the operator
Espacio Riesco in Santiago de Chile.
Fira de Barcelona also provided active
support for the organisation of motor and
jewellery shows in Qatar and the International
Health Forum (Forum Santé), which takes place
at the Palais de Congres in Montreal, providing
consultancy services for this health show.
Similarly, Fira de Barcelona was
commissioned to design the trade fair site
in Ulan Bator (Mongolia).
Along the same line of action, promoting
international projection, during the first half of
2015 it was announced that the joint venture
formed by Fira de Barcelona and Elan Qatar
has won the competition to become a fully-
fledged at the new trade fair site in Doha. Fira
de Barcelona has also signed an agreement
with the Cuban governmental body Grupo
Empresarial Palco, which manages the two trade
fair sites in that Caribbean country, Expo Cuba
and Pabexpo, as well as the congress palace in
Havana, to plan and organise a new portfolio of
shows specialised by economic sector.
To provide support for all this foreign activity
and to manage the various projects in hand,
the institution established a new company, in
which it has a 100% share: Fira de Barcelona
International Exhibition and Services S.L.
More shows and events
The year 2014 was also marked by the
announcement of new shows and events.
These include major meetings related to health
