ICA - Inhorgenta 2008

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inhorgenta europe 2008:
Positive Course of Trade Fair with
Increased Orders
February 15th to 18th 2008

© Inhorgenta Messe München GmbH

The inhorgenta europe 2008, which took place on the grounds of the New Munich Trade Fair Centre from 15 to 18 February 2008, was able to confirm its role as one of the leading trade fairs in the industry. A total of 1,224 exhibitors (2007: 1,183) from 48 countries (2007: 44) exhibited at the 35th International Fair for Watches, Clocks, Jewellery, Precious Stones, Pearls and Technology this year.

The very high level of previous years was also maintained on the trade visitor side with more than 30,000 visitors from 78 countries. Thus, once again inhorgenta europe was able to demonstrate its international character with a foreign share of 32%. Greece, the Netherlands, Hungary and the Czech Republic had the highest growth rates. As a result, the trend of the past years has again been confirmed: an increasing number of trade visitors are attending from the up-and-coming markets in the East.

Manfred Wutzlhofer, Chief Executive Officer of Messe München GmbH: "In spite of the more difficult framework conditions compared to 2007, for example the increase of prices for precious metals, the majority of exhibitors at inhorgenta europe reported good business. This was certainly also supported by the high number of foreign trade visitors. We were able to record a substantial increase especially from Eastern Europe."

The positive overall course of the trade fair, the good ambience at inhorgenta europe 2008 and the grouping of the industry categories were especially emphasized in the TNS Infratest survey. Both inhorgenta europe management and exhibitors saw one reason for the positive assessment of this years arrangement of the fair in the pooling of the complete offer for precious stones and pearls in Hall C1. As a result, the trade fair did justice to the increased interest in this jewelry segment. This trade fair area enjoyed a correspondingly high degree of favor among visitors; 95% of the trade visitors assessed both the offer of precious stones and pearls as excellent to good.

Ph. Hahn Söhne, Dieter Hahn, Owner: "Contrary to the belief of all skeptics, inhorgenta europe 2008 proved that the centralisation of competency in precious stones in Hall C1 was a great success. It created easier orientation for trade visitors. Those in the know in the industry can speak on equal terms there. The positive tendency of last year continued in our business transactions. Nothing in the way of a downturn is noticeable."

Additional quotes:

German Association of the Gem and Diamond Industries, Jörg Lindemann, Managing Director: "Both exhibitors and trade visitors rated the pooling of the gem or precious stone offers in Hall C1 positively. This promotes a very important sector of the trade fair, competency in the area precious stones. The efforts of the trade fair to increase internationalism are continuing to bear fruit, especially with respect to Eastern Europe. I believe that the trade fair site of Munich is ideal."

Schlangenotto Opals, Helen Schlangenotto, Managing Director: "We have been coming to inhorgenta europe from Australia for 15 years. We are also very satisfied with our business results here. One reason could be the new orientation of Hall C1. We were able to serve a very international public, especially visitors from Spain, England and Eastern Europe."

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