sectors, the industry for glass, ceramics and porcelain is facing challenges in a difficult economic environment. Ambiente is a strong and reliable partner for us here - especially now. With the expansion of the HoReCa area, the trade fair has consistently developed the dining segment. This opens up even more business opportunities for our members. Ambiente provides a lot of good, forwardlooking impetus. That gives us hope.” TOP MARKS FOR INTERNATIONALITY, QUALITY AND QUANTITY In view of the new trade fair records, expectations were high. These were more than fulfilled: Ambiente, Christmasworld and Creativeworld were characterised by new contacts with purchasing decisionmakers, global business contacts and worldwide visitor flows. Internationality has increased: Three out of four trade visitors came to Frankfurt from abroad. With a five per cent increase in international visitors compared to the previous year to a current 71 per cent, the mega trade fair topped the previous year’s result. Germany spearheaded the list of visitor nations this year. Italy and China took second and third place in the top five visitor countries, followed by the Netherlands and the USA. Together, they once again emphasised the importance of the leading trade fairs as the world’s most international event for the consumer goods industry. As expected, the ‘flying-in foreign countries’ were more strongly represented than visitor nations that, like France and the Alpine republics, travelled to the event by rail. Leading companies such as Faber-Castell appreciate the international character of the industry platform. Jürgen Brückner, Managing Director International Sales of the Faber-Castell Group, explains with regard to Creativeworld as a meeting place for the hobby, craft and artists’ supplies sector: “We’re very satisfied with 36
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