Booster for Business Hub NRW: Importance of Trade Fairs unabated after the Pandemic

The four trade fair companies in North Rhine-Westphalia have kicked off the trade fair year. The trade fair centres in Dortmund, Düsseldorf, Essen and Cologne will be hosting 153 trade fairs, events and congresses in May alone, which will have a major impact on the economy of this German federal state. Boasting joint total exhibition space of 963,000 m² the exhibition centres of North Rhine-Westphalia together form the biggest trade fair location in the world.

Dortmund, Düsseldorf, Essen and Cologne, 09 May 2022. Life is increasingly returning to the trade fair destination North Rhine-Westphalia. The decisive drivers for this being the four trade fair companies of this federal state: Messe Dortmund, Messe Düsseldorf, Messe Essen and Koelnmesse score points with 153 events in May alone – including eight of their own fairs, 15 partner and guest exhibitions as well as 130 other events such as congresses, meetings and conferences. This means this month sees almost as many events take place at the NRW fairgrounds as in the four previous months taken together. By the end of April they had already hosted 197 events – comprising nine of their own trade fairs, 16 partner and guest exhibitions as well as 172 other events

Stressing that this high number of events provides a key impulse for business in NRW, Hendrik Wüst, State Premier of North Rhine-Westphalia, says: “The economic power of North Rhine-Westphalia can be seen everywhere in our federal state: it is evidenced by our international companies and our strong SME sector with its many hidden champions, our infrastructure, our excellent universities and outstanding research facilities – and of course by our four major trade fair centres. These provide globally active marketplaces and export platforms for numerous industries. Together, they reflect the entire spectrum of the economy. At last, decision-makers from all over the world can come together here again, network, initiate and close business deals, discuss trends – and jointly shape the future. This is a good and important signal, especially in these times!”

With economic output of EUR 697 billion in 2020 North Rhine-Westphalia is economically the strongest federal state in Germany. In 2020 it accounted for some 21% of the entire economic performance of the Federal Republic of Germany. The trade fair companies in NRW and their numerous events make an important contribution to this. A smooth trade fair kick-off is ensured by the eased Covid restrictions and entry provisions. Access restrictions (“vaccinated, recovered, tested”), social distancing rules as well as strict specifications for stand construction no longer apply, for example. Such measures can however be reinstated should the infection scenario deteriorate.