The ceremony was held to thank the companies, suppliers, media and other professionals for the contribution and support to holding more than 100 fairs every year. Guest of honour Carlos Soria gave an inspirational talk about the challenges he has faced during his career in sport

Almost 80 countries celebrated Global Exhibitions Day today, to recognise an industry with an annual economic impact of around €98 billion, with a convening power that mobilises 4.4 million exhibiting companies and more than 260 million visitors around the world. The trade fair sector creates more than 680,000 direct and 1.8 million induced jobs

Madrid. 6 June 2018 --( ASIA TODAY )-- This is the third consecutive year that IFEMA has celebrated Global Exhibitions Day with trade fair institutions from around 80 countries, with a programme dedicated to everyone who contributes to its operation and helps it to stage more than 100 trade fairs and congresses every year, in which more than 33 companies and more than 3.5 million visitors take part. This activity which generates around €2,600 million every year for Madrid's economy, and more than 44,000 jobs. These figures will rise in the next five years according to growth forecasts in the IFEMA Strategic Plan, which predicts that the organisation will double its turnover to €203 million by 2022, according to Clemente González Soler, president of IFEMA, at the presentation of the event.

On a global scale, the industry achieves some extremely impressive figures, with €98 billion generated by the 31,000 fairs that take place every year, which are attended by 4.4 million exhibitor companies and more than 260 million visitors around the world. In this regard, hosting more than 400 fairs a year, our country is ranked fourth in the world, according to the Spanish Exhibition and Trade Fair Association.

This is a day for highlighting the value of the exhibitions industry, which employs 680,000 people, creates 1.8 million induced jobs, and fosters sector development, by providing proper conditions and projects to nourish businesses, promoting international expansion, and encouraging innovation and knowledge transfer. Aspects which, according to the president of IFEMA, trigger growth and expansion in sectors served by fairs, stimulating national economies. What’s more, trade fair organisations do all this while prioritising social responsibility, committed to having a positive impact on local communities and the environment.

INSPIRATIONAL TALK - Carlos Soria. To this end, IFEMA invited the most international Spanish mountaineer on the occasion of his last attempt to reach the Dhaulagiri summit, in Nepal, with the sponsorship of IFEMA. During his talk, he shared his life experience and the values needed for his activity, such as hard work, perseverance, the quest to share objectives and the struggle to achieve them. The experience accumulated during his last years has given him the satisfaction of reaching the top of 12 of the world's 14 eight - thousanders , and of remaining active and eager to reach the challenge of completing, at his 79 years of age, the two great mountains left to add to his curriculum. IFEMA sponsored the IFEMA-CARLOS SORIA Expedition to Dhaulagiri.

OPEN DOORS DAY: Today, IFEMA also held an Open Doors Day for Business and Protocol schools, with guided tours of the Feria de Madrid site. The objective is to raise awareness of the valuable activity carried out by IFEMA in different groups, and to draw attention to the impact of fairs on the economy and related sectors, as well as being genuine innovation and knowledge platforms.

The event was broadcast live from the IFEMA website -www.ifema.es and from the Global Exhibitions Day Microsite -http://www.ifema.es/web/diamudialferias/index.html where a commemorative video will be available to mark the Global Exhibitions Day ceremony and Carlos Soria’s talk, with testimonials from the ten presidents and members of the Organisers’ Committees from IFEMA's main trade fairs who took part in the celebration.

For further information:

Marta Cacho | IFEMA Communication and Press Manager | mcacho@ifema.es