The International Green Week (IGW) in Berlin has closed after a successful campaign from the pre-eminent agricultural policy event, which included an appearance from Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin.
The event, which attracts policy-makers and consumers, was attended by 220 leading politicians from around the world, 403,000 visitors overall and got worldwide coverage from 71 countries.
Dr. Christian Göke, chief operating officer of MesseBerlin GmbH, said: “[IGW is a] milestone in the history of the Green Week. The presence of all the leading representatives of the entire value-added chain and the most outstanding conference programme ever give an indication of the quality of this year’s Green Week.
“For the first time, discussions about safeguarding world food supplies, one of the key issues for humankind, took place not on a European but on a global level.”
Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin was a special guest at the event. His visit underlined his country’s strong showing at the fair, the largest participation by a foreign country at the German event.
Despite the crisis, it is encouraging to see that per capita expenditure by consumers remained stable at €101, compared with last year (2008: € 103), providing exhibitors with sales amounting to more than 41 million euros.
Ilse Aigner, federal minister of food, agriculture and consumer protection, said: “Once again the Green Week was a complete success. This unique international exhibition is much more than just a trade show: it is an innovative display of the capabilities of the food industry and farming.
“The displays present the entire range and diversity of these industries. Moreover the Green Week is unrivalled anywhere in the world as a gourmets’ delight, and is popular with everyone, young and old alike, offering culinary delights from five continents and providing visitors with insights into how food is produced.”
Exhibitors’ in attendance at the Green Week were keen to present their own company, maintain their image, obtain information and sell to the consumer. Two-thirds of exhibitors said they expected business after the fair to be very good.
The levels of overall satisfaction, a willingness to recommend this event to others, and the intention to attend again in future were greater this year not only among the general public but among trade visitors too.
The range on offer at the Green Week was assessed by 95 per cent of visitors as very good to satisfactory. Of those questioned, 97 per cent were satisfied with their visit to the trade show. 94 per cent of trade visitors and 97 per cent of the general public who attended would recommend attendance at the Green Week to acquaintances, colleagues and people with whom they do business.
More than 1,000 experts from all over the world went to Berlin for three days of discussions about strategies for safeguarding the world’s food supplies. These discussions included International Forum for Food and Agriculture (IFAE) took place at the ICC Berlin at the instigation of the German industry, under the heading of ‘World food situation 2020 - innovative solutions in the face of limited resources’.
Gerd Sonnleitner, president of the German Farmers’ Union (DBV), said: “The International Green Week has acquired an even broader basis, thus making it more attractive for consumers in urban areas and the countryside too. And for trade visitors it is a brilliant occasion! No other event is better at providing the latest details about the development of agricultural policy, the markets and countries than the Green Week. There are no current issues, no consumer trends which are not covered by an event here. Anyone who fails to attend the Green Week is really missing something.”
The date for next year’s event has already been announced as 15 to 24 January 2010.
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