Zagreb Fair: an essential European marketplace
Established in 1909, the Zagreb Fair was one of the first fairs in Central Europe. Today the event is celebrating its 95th anniversary, said Zagreb Fair representative Mirjana Leskovic, during a speech she gave at the Mercure Korona Hotel in late February. Leskovic told her audience about the fair’s history as well as its activities.
In 1990, the City of Zagreb became a member of the World Trade Centers Association (WTCA), the most important world business family with approximately 300 members from more than 80 countries. Zagreb Fair organizes around 30 events annually, 16 of which carry the UFI (Union of International Events) symbol. It hosts over 7,000 exhibitions from 70 countries and regularly attracts over 700,000 visitors annually. This year’s activities started in January with PRIME, an international marketing event. February hosted “Fashion and Beauty Days” as well as the “Zagreb Sports and Boat Show.” Exhibitions such as “Etnogastronomy and Tourism as well as the “Zagreb Auto Show” are organized in March, while the “Construction and Equipping” exhibition will take place in April. The most significant multi-industry trade fair in Central Europe, Zagreb International Fall Fair, organized in September, is an exhibition focused on central economic happenings in Central and southeastern Europe. Among the exhibitors, Hungary had the strongest participation in this fair, Leskovic said.
As the cultural, political, scientific and business center of Croatia, Zagreb lures its visitors with the beauty of its architecture and its nature, as well as a large number of events organized throughout the year. Pointing out Zagreb’s long tradition of bringing people together to exchange information and products, Mario Zmajevic, president of the Croatian National Tourist Board, was also on hand and discussed a large array of cultural and social happenings in the Croatian capital.
Anita Brkanic
http://www.businesshungary.com/marcius/events02.html
